School-going children and students across the country have been ordered to register for the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) before the commencement of this academic year’s third term.

In a letter dated August 16, addressed to regional and county education heads, Education PS Dr Belio Kipsang highlighted that all Kenyans are constitutionally required to register to SHIF, further directing the learners to sign themselves up to the platform as their parents’ dependents.

“The Ministry of Health, State Department for Medical Services through the Social Health Authority has developed an enhanced benefit package for Edu Afya to be covered under the Social Health Insurance Fund,” said Kipsang.

“All School going children are therefore required to register as dependents of their parents before school opening dates for 3rd term 2024.”

The learners can register to the SHIF platform through the fund’s official website, afyaangu.go.ke or by using the USSD code *147#.

“The registration can be done through sha.go.ke, *147#, or afyangu.go.ke as per attached registration manual. A soft copy is also available on www.sha.go.ke. For any challenges during registration please contact Social Health Authority call center on 0800720601 or info@sha.go.ke,” said Kipsang.  

“This is therefore to ask you to communicate this information to all parents and schools under your purview that they ensure all students are registered to Social Health Insurance Fund.”  

SHIF registration commenced on July 1, 2024, under the stewardship of former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has announced.

The fund was however declared unconstitutional by the High Court on July 12, in a blow to the government’s plan to replace NHIF with SHIF.

Delivering the verdict then, a three-judge bench constituting Justices Alfred Mabeya, Robert Limo, and Fridah Mugambi ruled that there was no public participation in coming up with the new healthcare programme.

The judges further noted that there were disparities in the new Social Health Insurance Act since it would burden a few salaried individuals by creating a disparity in the contributions.

The judges however suspended the decision for 120 days to give Parliament an opportunity to correct the legislation.

As per the ruling, SHIF’s total nullification will commence on November 20, 2024.