The government through the Ministry of Health has stated that all 7-year-olds will need to be registered for Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) within 90 days starting from March 1.
Registration of the 7-year-olds was communicated through the Social Health Insurance (General) Regulations, 2024 which governs the rollout of universal health care.
This exercise will coincide with the mandatory registration of all Kenyans aged above 25-year-olds
“Within ninety days upon the coming into force of these regulations, every person resident in Kenya shall apply for registration as a member of the SHIF,” the regulations read in part.
The regulations give a reprieve for children under seven years of age noting that their parents or guardians can make registrations on their behalf.
In that case, the parent will present a birth certificate or a birth notification of the child so as to be eligible as a beneficiary.
The birth notification will only be admissible if the child is below six months old.
“Upon the child attaining the age of seven years, a parent or a guardian shall present the child at a designated service point for the purposes of obtaining the child’s biometric data,” the regulations dictate.
After registration, the children will continue accessing benefits accorded courtesy of their parents or guardians until they turn 21 years old which is indicated as the age of majority.
Once the age of majority is attained, the Ministry of Health will terminate the benefits enjoyed by the child and require the individual to start making a separate contribution.
Unemployed Kenyans who are enrolled in various education programs will be given an extra four years before their names are struck off from the beneficiaries list.
“The Social Health Authority shall suspend the Minor Social Health Insurance number for members who were previously children but have attained the age of majority and have not updated their registration details,” the law states.
The SHIF has replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
