The Ministry of Health has unveiled progressive strategies aimed at enhancing healthcare financing in Kenya, with a focus on expanding accessibility and ensuring long-term sustainability of health services.
Key initiatives include the rollout of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), the scale-up of the Linda Mama programme, strategic public-private partnerships, and continued investment in robust health infrastructure.
These developments were highlighted during a high-level roundtable discussion titled “Reimagining Healthcare Financing in Africa: Strategic Solutions Amid Shifting Geopolitical Realities,” held on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva on May 22, 2025.
Speaking at the event, Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni outlined Kenya’s multi-pronged approach to healthcare financing. “Kenya is shifting towards a combination of government funding, social health insurance, and private insurance to strengthen our health system,” she said.
She emphasized that SHIF is designed to pool resources and distribute risks equitably, ensuring all citizens benefit regardless of their financial means. Muthoni also called on every Kenyan to register under the new scheme to promote broader healthcare coverage.
The Linda Mama programme, a government-funded initiative offering free maternity services to pregnant women and their newborns, is also set for expansion.
A key highlight of Kenya’s presentation was the introduction of facility improvement provisions in the Financing Act, a policy that allows health facilities to retain and reinvest their self-generated revenue. This move is expected to directly enhance service delivery at the grassroots level.
Despite fiscal constraints, Kenya reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable and innovative healthcare financing models. The government aims to balance strong public sector leadership with the efficiency and innovation of private sector engagement, accelerating the country’s journey toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The event was hosted by the World Health Expo in partnership with AMREF Health Africa and brought together health and finance ministers, development partners, and private sector leaders from across Sub-Saharan Africa.
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