Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced that starting April 1, all officers from the National Police Service and Kenya Prisons Service will be mandatorily enrolled in the Social Health Authority (SHA) insurance scheme. The move follows a directive by President William Ruto as part of the government’s push for Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Over 100,000 officers and their dependents will gain comprehensive medical cover at facilities nationwide.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale made the announcement on Saturday in Garissa County. He stated, "Beginning April 1, our security personnel, including members of the police and Kenya Prisons Service, will be enrolled in the Social Health Authority (SHA) programme, providing them and their dependents with comprehensive medical cover at any facility nationwide, whether private, public, or faith-based."
The initiative builds on the successful enrolment of teachers into the scheme, which began on December 1, 2025, following negotiations between the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and unions such as KNUT and KUPPET.
Prior to the transition, teachers had access to only about 800 facilities; now they can reach over 9,000 health facilities. More than 400,000 teachers now benefit from inpatient coverage limits of Ksh1 million to Ksh3 million annually.
On January 19, Duale convened a high-level meeting with representatives from the National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Prisons Service (KPS), and SHA to advance the shift of security personnel to the state-run Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). The meeting resolved to form a joint technical team from police, prisons, and SHA to finalize benefit packages, service delivery arrangements, and transition plans for a smooth migration.
Duale emphasized that the move aligns with the 5th Administration’s UHC agenda, aimed at delivering equitable, sustainable, and quality healthcare for all Kenyans. This mandatory transition, under the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund, marks a key step in public sector healthcare reforms.
