Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has revealed that registration for the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) will commence after a national launch.
Speaking during a tour of Nairobi County hospitals on March 19, the CS stated that the national launch will be spearheaded by President William Ruto, who is also expected to announce the commencement of the registration exercise officially.
She added that the government would also deploy various communications strategies when the exercise commences ensuring that no Kenyans are left behind.
According to earlier plans, the mandatory registration for the new health insurance was scheduled to start early in the month.
"We are going to have a national launch and the communication is going to be from the top most. The President will communicate when we will start the registrations from that national launch.
"We shall also use the chiefs and the national administrators to communicate," she stated.
While the exact date of the launch is yet to be known, it is expected that the launch will be done in the coming days. Once launched, the mandatory registration exercise will be undertaken in three months.
Meanwhile, the CS has assured Kenyans of continued access to healthcare noting that the transition will be smooth.
She acknowledged that there were still outstanding bills owed to various hospitals in the country, adding that the Treasury would release Ksh1 billion to sort out the outstanding payments owed by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Kenyans are expected to continue using NHIF until the benefits of the SHIF start to be rolled out in July.
On the other hand, salary deductions for the new insurance cover are expected to be effected this month. Employed Kenyans will contribute 2.75 per cent of their gross pay towards SHIF.
A similar standard will also be employed for households earning an income in the informal sector.
Unemployed Kenyans above 25 years old will be making monthly contributions of Ksh300.
