Gov’t to monitor ‘economic characteristics’ of self-employed Kenyans to calculate SHIF payment

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has come out to explain how the government will collect contributions to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

In an interview with Citizen TV on Sunday evening, Nakhumicha said the formula is specially designed to determine everyone's income.

The CS said the government will observe what she called the economic characteristics of every unemployed or self-employed Kenyan to determine how they will pay 2.75 per cent of their income to the fund.

“If you live in a grass house, it cannot be hidden. We will observe the economic characteristics of the unemployed to see how they will contribute," Nakhumicha said, adding that this includes transactions on mobile money platforms.

She further clarified that those who have been contributing to NHIF will see their funds moved to SHIF, dismissing fears that Kenyans are likely to lose their contributions in the new move.

SHIF is expected to roll out in the next three weeks, and President William Ruto is expected to launch the registration exercise in the course of this period.

Nakhumicha also added that Kenyans will be required to confirm their details once SHIF is rolled out.

"Those registered under NHIF will be required to affirm their details. It's not new registration, it's just affirming the details. Those who have no details are the ones to register," she said.