SHA Registration Mandatory for January School Reopening as Taifa Care Deadline Approaches.
Schools across the country may be forced to deny students admission in January 2025 if they are not enrolled in the new Taifa Care health scheme under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Senior government advisor Moses Kuria revealed the stringent measure aimed at ensuring all Kenyans, including children, are registered for the scheme.
Speaking during a Homecoming Sabbath event at the SDA Church Ngarariga in Limuru, Kuria emphasized the government’s commitment to achieving full adoption of Taifa Care.
He highlighted the low enrollment of children in the scheme and revealed plans to compel parents to comply.
Kuria explained that starting January, schools will set aside the records of unregistered students, barring them from returning until their registration is complete.
Kuria noted that parents who have enrolled themselves but failed to register their children for SHA must act immediately. He warned that schools would require proof of registration for students to be admitted in the new term.
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The Ministry of Education has announced that schools will reopen on January 6, 2025, and close on April 4, following 13 weeks of learning.
However, the Ministry has not issued an official statement on the policy requiring health scheme registration, though it has previously emphasized the necessity for parents to enroll their children.
Expanded Benefits Under the Scheme
During the scheme’s launch in October, then Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha announced that there would be no cap on the number of dependents per household.
Families can register all their dependents without restriction, provided they can financially support them. Additionally, polygamous households will not face extra charges for multiple spouses, dispelling earlier concerns.
The government has adopted various strategies to increase SHA uptake. These include door-to-door campaigns led by Community Health Providers (CHPs) and partnerships with churches. Local leaders such as governors, senators, and MPs are also spearheading awareness campaigns in their counties.
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As of mid-November, 14 million Kenyans had joined the SHA scheme.
This includes 8 million new registrations and 6 million individuals who successfully transitioned from the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). The government continues to intensify efforts to bring more citizens into the fold.
SHA Registration Mandatory for January School Reopening as Taifa Care Deadline Approaches.
