Nairobi, Kenya – Kenyans struggling with hospital bills may soon get relief as the government rolls out new free primary healthcare facilities under the Social Health Authority (SHA) system.
The SHA has introduced Green Label Facilities, special health centres where registered beneficiaries can access full primary care without paying any fees.
Bomet Health Centre is the first facility to receive this Green Label Service, marking a key step toward universal health coverage in the country.
At these centres, patients will receive consultations, diagnoses, lab tests, and medications at no cost. Services will cover disease screening, immunisation, maternal and child healthcare, family planning, and treatment for common illnesses and long-term conditions such as diabetes.
The government hopes these Green Label Facilities will restore public confidence in SHA and show that universal healthcare can work at the community level.
However, the move comes amid growing frustration over SHA’s performance. Since replacing the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) in October 2024, SHA has covered less than 15% of actual treatment costs.
Many patients still pay most of their medical bills out-of-pocket. Cancer and kidney failure patients, for example, often struggle to access essential tests and medications, while ICU bills are only partially reimbursed.
Private hospitals have also raised concerns, with some refusing SHA patients or demanding upfront cash due to delayed payments from the government.
Registration issues, mismatched ID numbers, and complicated household verification rules have made it difficult for some Kenyans, especially those over 25, to access care.
Despite these challenges, President William Ruto insists that SHA is working. Over 25 million Kenyans have registered, he says, and initial problems are being addressed.
He declared that primary healthcare services at level 1 to 3 facilities are now completely free for registered users, highlighting SHA as an improvement over NHIF.
The government has also shut down about 1,000 fraudulent health facilities and promised free healthcare for 2.2 million vulnerable Kenyans.
International support, including a Ksh 208 billion US health cooperation framework signed in December 2025, has bolstered the program.
While SHA’s popularity remains mixed, the launch of Green Label Facilities offers hope for millions of Kenyans struggling with medical expenses, making healthcare more accessible and affordable.
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