The new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) is facing criticism as it rolls out, with private hospitals raising concerns over the lack of formal contracts with the government. On Tuesday morning, Brian Lishenga, Chairperson of the Kenya Rural and Private Hospital Association, revealed that most private healthcare providers are not ready for the transition, as no contracts had been signed with the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Lishenga stated during an interview that the private sector feels unprepared for the rollout and that, as of the previous day, no private health provider in the country had received a contract from SHA. The government, however, maintains that the program is on track and urges Kenyans to register for the new insurance scheme.

Despite ongoing cooperation, Lishenga criticized the government's rushed approach, claiming that NHIF officers were scrambling to deliver physical contracts to providers in some areas just before the program's launch. He expressed concern that key players in the healthcare system might have been left out due to the haste.

The SHIF is set to replace the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), and all Kenyans seeking healthcare from both public and private hospitals must register with the new scheme to access services under government insurance.