Kenyans can now breathe easier when it comes to health insurance payments. The government has officially enabled the use of the Hustler Fund to pay for Social Health Authority (SHA) premiums under the new Lipa Pole Pole installment plan.
This latest move, announced quietly but confirmed through multiple SMS alerts to users, offers a lifeline to millions, especially those in the informal sector, who often struggle with lump sum health contributions.
How It Works
There are two simple ways to pay your SHA premiums using Hustler Fund:
*Option 1: Via 254#
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Dial *254#
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Select Option 4: Lipa Pole Pole
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You’ll see your SHA annual premium amount
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Choose Hustler Fund as your payment option
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Follow the prompts to complete the transaction
👉 Note: You must have cleared your previous Hustler Fund loans to qualify.
*Option 2: Via 147#
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Dial *147#
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Select Lipa Pole Pole
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Choose SHA Contributions
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Select Hustler Fund as the payment method
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Choose a repayment plan: daily, weekly, or monthly
The premium is paid instantly, and your loan repayment begins immediately.
Who Qualifies?
To access this service, you must:
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Be registered on the Hustler Fund platform
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Have a positive repayment history
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Ensure your SHA details are up to date (the system will prompt you if they aren’t)
Why It Matters
During the Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay, President William Ruto unveiled this flexible payment scheme, describing it as a key step to universal healthcare access.
"This is about dignity and choice," Ruto said. "Now, even the mama mboga can pay her premium pole pole, and still access quality health care."
The rollout is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs, mobile network providers, and banks under the Hustler Fund umbrella.
Unanswered Questions
However, the integration of Hustler Fund and SHA systems raises data privacy concerns. Despite both services being hosted on different platforms, no formal announcement has been made about how the systems are linked or secured.
