The government has issued a directive requiring all students to be registered as dependents under their parents’ Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) accounts before the third term begins.
This move aimed at including students as beneficiaries of the SHIF.
The mandate follows the enactment of the Social Health Insurance Act 2023, which came into effect on November 22, 2023.
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According to Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang, registration can be completed through sha.go.ke, *147#, or afyangu.go.ke, as outlined in the provided registration manual.
”All School going children are therefore required to register as dependents of their parents before school opening dates for 3rd term 2024. The registration can be done through sha.go.ke, *147#, or afyangu.go.keas per attached registration manual,” read a statement by Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang.
Student specialized package
The Ministry of Health, through the Social Health Authority, has introduced a specialized benefit package for students called Edu Afya under the SHIF.
This package is designed to ensure students have access to necessary healthcare services.
The Social Health Insurance Act requires all Kenyans, including children, to register as SHIF members. The government initiated the nationwide registration on July 1, aiming to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
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Emphasizing the importance of this exercise, the government highlighted that students need to be covered under the Edu Afya package to access healthcare services.
This directive takes advantage of a recent Court of Appeal ruling, which, on August 15, extended a stay on a High Court order that had paused the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to SHIF.
The Appellate Court, led by Justices Francis Tuiyott, Ali Aroni, and Lydia Achode, maintained the status quo until a final ruling is delivered on September 20.
