Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced that staff from the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) will continue to serve under the newly formed Social Health Authority (SHA) for an additional six months, or until SHA completes its recruitment process — whichever comes first.
In a statement posted on his official X handle on May 23, 2025, Duale stated that the directive was issued following a consultative meeting with the Public Service Commission (PSC), chaired by Ambassador Antony Muchiri, and the SHA leadership under Abdi Mohamed.
“Convened a consultative meeting with the Public Service Commission, led by Chairperson Amb. Antony Muchiri, and the Social Health Authority (SHA), chaired by Dr Abdi Mohamed, to address the transition of staff from the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF),” Duale wrote.
The meeting, according to Duale, also focused on operational and human resource matters critical to the continuity of health financing under the government’s new framework.
“The commission issued a firm directive: all former NHIF staff will continue to serve under SHA for an additional six months, or until SHA completes its recruitment process, whichever comes first,” Duale stated.
Staff redeployment
He further noted that NHIF staff who had lawfully requested redeployment to other state institutions would be reassigned immediately, with the redeployment process scheduled to begin next week.
“Staff who have lawfully requested redeployment to other public service institutions will be reassigned immediately, with the redeployment process set to begin next week,” the statement reads in part.
These resolutions, he said, aim to ensure legal compliance, organisational stability, and uninterrupted service delivery during Kenya’s shift to a new health financing model under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) framework.
“These resolutions mark a decisive step in ensuring stability, legal compliance, and uninterrupted service delivery as the country transitions to a more efficient and inclusive health insurance regime under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) framework,” the statement adds.
Improving service delivery
These directives build on a series of reforms introduced by the Ministry of Health to restore efficiency and strengthen health service delivery nationwide.
In a separate update on April 15, 2025, Duale outlined new strategies following a consultative meeting with the Council of Governors Health Committee, chaired by Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, which centred on SHA’s rollout, digitisation of health services, and absorption of UHC staff.
“We agreed to fast-track the digitalisation of health facilities in all 47 counties, led by the Digital Health Agency, to improve service delivery,” Duale wrote on his X account.
The Health CS also pledged increased funding for emergency, chronic, and critical illnesses and announced plans to train facility in-charges to support SHA registration.
“To streamline UHC staff absorption and Community Health Promoter (CHP) payments, counties will conduct a headcount, while the National Government will transfer funds based on SRC-approved salary scales,” he said.
Duale further reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening Kenya’s health system through transparent partnerships with counties, with an emphasis on integrity, accountability, and the human resource needs critical to the success of Taifa Care.
