President William Ruto has introduced a new, flexible payment model for Kenyans to contribute to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) through manageable instalments.
Dubbed Lipa SHA pole pole or Lipa SHA mos mos, the model is designed to ease the burden of annual lump-sum payments, especially for informal sector workers who often struggle with irregular incomes.
Speaking during the Madaraka Day celebrations at Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay, Ruto said the move was part of the government’s broader push to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“We are introducing an innovative and inclusive payment solution called Lipa SHA pole pole. This initiative allows Kenyans to remit their annual SHA contribution through instalments—monthly, weekly, or daily,” said the President.
He explained that the pay-as-you-go model is a strategic response to long-standing challenges faced by informal workers, who often fail to maintain continuous health insurance coverage due to inflexible payment demands.
The model is a product of collaboration between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs, mobile network providers, and financial institutions under the Hustler Fund framework.
President Ruto emphasised that the initiative will enable more Kenyans to access healthcare services without risking financial ruin.
“Families will no longer be forced to choose between putting food on the table and paying for health insurance,” he said.
To begin contributing, Kenyans can dial *147# and follow the prompts to sign up and start making payments, the President noted.
In addition, Ruto announced plans to bolster healthcare infrastructure by enhancing collaboration between national and county governments in the acquisition and distribution of medical equipment.
He said counties will be directly engaged to identify and prioritise their specific medical needs, while the national government will work with equipment manufacturers and suppliers to meet those demands.
“We will work together with county governments to assess and prioritise the medical equipment required to serve their communities effectively,” he said.
The initiative builds on Kenya’s ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the healthcare system and ensuring that all citizens enjoy access to affordable and quality medical care.
