Kenyans flock to register for new Health Insurance amid system errors

Government officials were deployed to villages and markets to educate and mobilise citizens to support the new programme.

Many people, however, had difficulty registering due to technical issues in the system.

Senior Deputy County Commissioner Simiyu Were led a team of officials in Ondeni, Nakuru Town, to raise awareness about the registration process just before the official launch.

They presented residents with a list of the new scheme's benefits, accompanied by community health promoters.

Simiyu emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, "People want to know if they will receive medicine at the hospitals after paying their contributions. The law requires that all funds collected by hospitals be reinvested back into the facilities to purchase medications and upgrade medical equipment."

In Kisii County, hundreds of residents gathered at NHIF offices to register, but many were left stranded for hours due to system failures. Samson King’oino, a resident, expressed his frustration: "I have tried to apply with the number they provided, but I'm still being told it’s under approval. I’m worried about what they are approving, especially since I have a patient who needs treatment."

Anunda Ratemoo, another resident, echoed his concerns, asking, "Why are we facing these issues? What should I do now?"

In Nyaura Village, Nyaribari Chache, local chiefs were actively mobilizing residents to onboard the scheme, but they encountered similar technical difficulties that forced them to revert to manual registration. Stellar Amanya, an assistant chief, noted, "I had to write down names manually because the residents turned out in large numbers, and I wanted to ensure they could register while we wait for the network issues to be resolved."

In Bomet County, officials conducted door-to-door outreach to remind residents of the importance of early registration to prevent delays in receiving healthcare services. Ezekiel Koech, a local resident, stated, "I tried to register, but the system says it is not available at the moment. The government needs to improve the system so that everyone can register before the first of the month when they want to access medical services."

Residents of Baringo County have called on the government to enhance sensitization efforts, as many are still unclear about their responsibilities regarding contributions. Wendy Chebaibai, a resident, expressed concern, stating, "We expected the Social Health Insurance Fund to have registered about 10 million members by next month, but currently, only 3 million have enrolled, which is just 30% of our goal. This low turnout is largely due to a lack of understanding."

Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni reassured Kenyans that the registration process will continue smoothly, even after the official launch. Winnie Bore, the Health CEC for Baringo, added that officials have been visiting facilities with high crowds to ensure that residents are informed about how to register for the scheme.

The Ministry of Health has urged those who were unable to register to keep trying, emphasizing that the enrollment exercise will remain ongoing. Muthoni stated, "Every household has been targeted, and we expect community health promoters to assist members of the public who may encounter difficulties during registration. If there are challenges, they will refer individuals to NHIF centers for assistance."