The transition to a new health scheme in Kenya has sparked significant backlash, with some questioning what will happen to their NHIF contributions.
Health Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai sought to reassure Kenyans about the fate of their contributions to the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), stating that funds will be safely transferred to the new scheme, the Social Health Assurance (SHA).
“Every contribution will be accounted for and carried forward to SHA,” Kimtai promised, addressing fears of potential financial losses amid concerns about the registration process.
However, public skepticism remains high as Kenyans expressed their frustrations during virtual training sessions intended for public health officials, disrupting discussions with protest songs against government failures.
Despite the Ministry of Health’s attempts to manage the situation, many citizens have taken to social media to voice their grievances regarding registration complications.
The MoH has yet to disclose the total number of registered individuals, and a key update meeting was abruptly canceled without explanation, raising further doubts about the smooth rollout of the SHA.
The NHIF management reassured employees that job security remains intact, with no layoffs planned during the transition to SHA.
As of Friday, around 1.9 million registrations have been recorded, and employers are urged to register their staff on the SHA portal by October 1 as the deadline for contributions looms.
The mounting discontent highlights the government’s challenges as it seeks to implement significant changes to Kenya’s health insurance landscape.
