Lodwar – December 16, 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
The Department of Health and Sanitation today hosted H.E. President William Samoei Ruto at the Health exhibition desk during the 9th Edition of the Turkana Tourism and Cultural Festival (Tobong’u Lore), where the Social Health Authority (SHA) was showcased as a key pillar of Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.
The President accompanied by H.E. the Governor, Dr. Jeremiah Lomorukai, alongside other national and county government leaders, highlighting government efforts to expand access to quality and inclusive healthcare services, particularly for communities in remote and underserved areas.
SHA is the national UHC mechanism designed to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare costs while improving service delivery through digital platforms. The programme supports access to outpatient, maternal, chronic illness, and specialized care across different levels of health facilities.
Speaking during the exhibition, Eliud Eyanae, ICT Officer at the Department of Health and Sanitation, who also coordinates SHA activities, said the County Government leveraged the Tobong’u Lore Festival to conduct mass registration, targeting residents from far-flung areas where access to information remains limited.
Over the last two days, over 300 new registrations have been reached, with a target of over 1,000 by the end of the festival. Eyanae noted that public response had been encouraging, describing the turnout as a positive indicator of growing awareness and acceptance of SHA.
As per the national database, the County Government of Turkana has registered over 226,500 individuals, representing approximately 24.4 percent of the county population based on the 2019 National Census. Of these, more than 149,000 are adults aged 18 years and above, with the County targeting 800,000 by the end of the 2026/27 financial year.
Eyanae explained that SHA registration takes an average of five minutes, though additional time is often required to provide public sensitization and respond to inquiries. He emphasized that SHA is inclusive and non-discriminatory, accommodating all populations including persons with disabilities and children.
He further noted that primary healthcare services at Level II facilities are provided free of charge, while access to services at Level III facilities and above is guided by means testing. Minimum contributions start from KES 350 and are payable only when services are sought, with flexible contribution options available for informal earners.
To strengthen outreach and enrollment, the County Government has established two SHA registration desks at the Ekaales Centre, the main venue of the cultural festival. Registration services have also been integrated into the ongoing One Health’s Kimormor health outreaches, aimed at extending healthcare access to underserved communities.
