Nairobi City, Kiambu, Nakuru, Mombasa, and Kakamega are the leading counties in Social Health Authority (SHA) uptake since the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) on October 1, 2024, according to verified reports from the Ministry of Health. The shift introduced the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) under the SHA, aiming to provide universal health coverage.
As of early May 2026, data from the Ministry of Health indicates that these five counties have the highest number of registered members, driven by factors such as population density, awareness campaigns, and existing health infrastructure. Nairobi leads with over 2 million registered members, followed by Kiambu with approximately 1.5 million, Nakuru with 1.2 million, Mombasa with 900,000, and Kakamega with 800,000.
The SHA registration process has been ongoing since October 2024, with the government targeting to enroll over 50 million Kenyans by the end of 2026. Challenges such as system glitches and public skepticism have been reported, but the Ministry of Health has implemented measures to streamline registration and address concerns.
Health experts emphasize that high uptake in these counties reflects successful outreach but caution that rural areas still lag behind. The government plans to intensify mobile registration drives and community engagement to bridge the gap.
