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Faith-Based Health Institutions in Kenya Hailed for Delivering Quality Care amid Government Hiccups

Credit: Social Health Authority (SHA)
Silas Isenjia

By Silas Isenjia

Nairobi, 02 October, 2025 / 4:37 pm (ACI Africa).

Kenyan government has lauded Faith-Based health institutions for their vital contribution to healthcare delivery in the East African country as the country works towards streamlining services provided by the new Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme.

In a Tuesday, September 30 statement issued after a joint meeting with religious leaders, including representatives of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Health acknowledged the emerging challenges facing SHA, notably in digitization and financing, and outlined measures being taken to address them.

“The Cabinet Secretary appreciated the great role played by Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) in the delivery of health services,” reads the statement that was issued after the meeting that also brought together representatives from the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK), and Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS).

In October 2024, the Kenyan government formulated a plan that sought to settle over seven billion Kenyan shillings (USD 54,360,487) owed to Faith-based health institutions in the country.

The institutions had been demanding the clearance of the long-standing debt by the defunct  National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) before continuing to incur more costs under the newly introduced SHA medical scheme.

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In the September 30 statement, the CS for health, Aden Duale, informed faith representatives of the progress in implementing the key pillars of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), noting that over 26.5 million Kenyans have so far been registered under SHA.

On digitization of health facilities, CS. Duale said that currently, “the Digital Health Agency has digitized 3,386 of a target 6,500 facilities in the public sector.”

“The Ministry supported the FBOs facilities in digitization by issuing them with 100 gadgets as per their earlier request and trained their officers on the system,” the CS said.

According to the statement, the Kenyan government has, for the financial year 2025/26, allocated Ksh.6.1 Billion (USD 46.97 million) for UHC employees, Ksh.1.75 Billion (USD 13.48 million) which has settled the doctors’ arrears as per the Return to Work Formula (RTWF) following their protests in 2024.

As per the agreement after the protests, the statement indicates that the government has also allocated Ksh.9.9 Billion (USD 76.23 million) to pay interns—some of whom practice in the FBO facilities—and Ksh.3.2 Billion (USD 24.64 million) to support the Community Health Promoters (CHPs).

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On health financing, the statement indicates that SHA has paid a total of Ksh.10 Billion (USD 77.0 million) and Ksh.59.3 Billion (USD 456.61 million) for Primary Health Care and Social Health Insurance Funds respectively.

The CS is also said to have written to the National Treasury requesting for Ksh.5.4 Billion (USD 41.58 million) to be factored in the Supplementary Budget to settle the legacy NHIF debt below Ksh.10 Million (USD 77,000) as per the Presidential Directive earlier in 2024.

On their part, the faith representatives who included Bishop Cleophas Oseso Tuka of Nakuru Catholic Diocese representing KCCB appreciated the progress in the resolution of issues raised by them and the ordinary citizen.

To further address challenges facing health institutions, the stakeholders agreed that the CS will visit the MEDS within the next two weeks, while SHA will assign relationship managers to each facility and organize joint clinics to enhance service delivery.

It was further resolved that SHA will endeavor to settle “all claims on a first-in, first-out basis within the stipulated 90-day contractual lperiod”, while the Consortium of FBOs was tasked with submitting “a list of remote facilities in need of devices to support the digitization process.”

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The use of “consortium platforms to sensitize members on the benefits of SHA and promote payment by setting up registration desks in churches and mosques and the need for chairperson to hold quarterly progress report meetings” was also part of the resolutions.

Silas Isenjia

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.