100% NHIF Coverage for PWDs

The Kenya Kwanza government promised to ensure 100 per cent NHIF coverage for PWDs within 18 months.

The NHIF has been phased out and replaced by the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), with the Social Health Authority (SHA) taking up the roles of the now defunct NHIF. Despite the change, the government has continued broader social protection efforts, with plans announced in January 2025 to use the existing Social Registry and Inua Jamii databases to identify vulnerable households, including those with PWDs, for coverage under the new SHIF.
In addition, following the enactment of the Social Health Insurance Act, the government carried out a nationwide mapping and registration of persons with disabilities in October and November 2024 as part of its broader initiative to achieve 100% coverage for persons with disabilities.
However, a significant reduction in the budget for vulnerable medical coverage in 2025/2026 in addition to the exclusion of assistive devices from SHA’s benefits package raises concerns about the funding and implementation of this commitment.

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This Promise Tracker is an independent civic-accountability tool designed to monitor and document the progress of public commitments made by the Government of Kenya. Information presented on this platform is compiled from publicly available sources including government publications, parliamentary records, policy documents, and credible media reports. The classifications used in this tracker represent an evidence-based assessment by the platform’s researchers and should be understood as analytical judgments rather than official government determinations. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy and regular updates, the status of promises may evolve as new information becomes available. This website is not affiliated with or operated by the Government of Kenya.

Last updated: May 19, 2026 12:36 pm