With the third term only a fortnight away, a critical new requirement faces parents across Kenya: to register their children under the Social Health Insurance Fund before Monday, August 26. This has been directed by the government through an internal memo by Belio Kipsang dated August 16, the Principal Secretary for Basic Education.
The urgent memo directs regional and county education directors to ensure compliance, noting that every child of school-going age has to be registered as a dependant of their parents in SHIF before the new term begins. This move is an offshoot of the broader government strategy aimed at providing cover for all children born in the country from birth to 18 years.
SHIF is an expansion of healthcare access established under Social Health Insurance Act No. 16 of 2023, building on the previous EduAfya scheme that only covered secondary school students. President William Ruto announced this policy shift on 10th August, stressing the commitment of the government to universal health coverage.
Parents can enroll their children on the official SHIF website, by way of SMS dialing “147#”, or even on the Afyangu portal. Details on how to do this are found on these media in the registration manual.