Nairobi — October 27, 2025

The Social Health Authority (SHA) has announced a new range of health benefits under its Primary Health Care (PHC) package, a move aimed at improving access to basic medical services for millions of Kenyans.

Unveiled on Sunday through a post on X (formerly Twitter), the plan highlights five key health packages available at public facilities across the country — including Level 2 and 3 health centres and selected Level 4 hospitals. The rollout comes at a time when the authority faces mounting scrutiny from both the public and Parliament over its performance and transparency.

“The five packages include outpatient visits for everyday illnesses such as malaria, coughs, colds, diarrhoea, or wounds, ensuring basic care is accessible close to home,” the SHA said in its statement.

What’s Covered Under the New Package

The newly listed services cover a broad range of health needs:

• Outpatient care for common illnesses like malaria, diarrhoea, or minor injuries.

• Chronic disease management for conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and high blood pressure.

• Doctor consultations and essential medicines for patients in need of treatment.

• Laboratory and imaging tests including blood tests, urine analysis, and X-rays.

• Eye care services such as eye testing, vision education, and free eyeglasses for children under 18.

The services are available nationwide and can be accessed through a toll-free number (147) or the official SHA website (www.sha.go.ke).

The announcement builds on reforms introduced after the SHA replaced the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) in October 2024, a key step in President William Ruto’s push toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Parliament Questions Oversight and Transparency

Even as the new benefits were rolled out, the SHA faced tough questions from lawmakers. During a parliamentary session on October 14, Health Committee Chair James Nyikal criticised Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, urging him to focus on fixing operational gaps rather than defending the agency’s image.

“If I really wanted to go by the rules, maybe I would have closed this meeting,” Nyikal said during a tense hearing. “But it is more important to get a point which I can now go and work on.”

Nyikal was referring to concerns surrounding the management of KSh13 billion allocated to the Primary Healthcare Fund and an additional KSh38 billion for emergency and chronic care.

Heated Exchanges Over Fraud Allegations

The hearing later descended into chaos after Kitutu Chache South MP Antony Kibagendi accused Duale of “intimidation” and raised claims of possible fraud within the SHA. The altercation led to Kibagendi’s removal from the chamber by parliamentary orderlies.

Duale, in turn, accused the MP of having a conflict of interest due to his alleged links to recently closed hospitals — a charge Kibagendi flatly denied. “Let him bring evidence,” he retorted after the session.

The exchanges reflected deepening frustrations among legislators over what they describe as “gaps in accountability” in the newly established health authority.

A Critical Moment for Health Reform

Dr Nyikal later called for calm, saying Parliament’s priority should be to ensure that Kenyans benefit from the new healthcare structure. “We must focus on ensuring these reforms actually work for people on the ground,” he said.

Analysts say the controversy underscores the challenges of transitioning from the NHIF to the SHA — a process meant to improve efficiency but now mired in concerns over governance and delivery.

For many Kenyans, however, the focus remains simple: that the promised primary health services — from malaria treatment to diabetes care — are available when they walk into a clinic.