CS Duale Reveals the Maximum Number of Wives and Children SHA Can Cover
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced that a single goat’s sale can pay for health coverage under the Social Health Authority (SHA) for up to four wives and an unlimited number of children.
Speaking on Sunday, April 27, in Marsabit County, Duale compared the new SHA system to the former National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). He explained that while NHIF restricted coverage to one wife and four children, SHA now allows a broader inclusion of dependents.
“All your children, even if they are twenty, will be covered. You can also register up to four wives,” Duale stated. “Previously, NHIF only permitted coverage for one wife and four children.”
He emphasized the value of the new system, saying, “If you sacrifice and sell one goat to pay for SHA for a year, I guarantee you will see the benefits. When the time comes for medical needs, you will not need to organize a Harambee.”
The Health Secretary also shared plans to launch a sensitization drive across northeastern Kenya. According to Duale, regions like Garissa, Marsabit, Wajir, Mandera, Isiolo, and Tana River are lagging in SHA registrations.
“I have noticed that pastoralist communities, especially from these counties, have been slow to register,” he said. “I want to assure you that I will bring officials from SHA and the Digital Health Authority. Together, we will implement a plan to ensure our people are fully registered.”
This campaign aims to bridge the registration gap and ensure that every eligible Kenyan accesses healthcare benefits under SHA.
Duale’s announcement follows a major policy shift by SHA, made official almost a year ago on June 30, 2024. In a fact sheet released then, the authority confirmed that it had removed the dependency limits previously set by NHIF.
According to the Social Health Authority, anyone providing for their dependents financially can now register them without limitation. Furthermore, polygamous families are not required to pay extra contributions for registering multiple wives.
“There’s no limit to how many children you can include as long as you support them financially,” SHA affirmed in its statement.
This move has been praised for its inclusivity, particularly among pastoralist and polygamous communities.
Duale revealed the impressive progress SHA has made since its inception. As of April 27, 2025, over 21.7 million Kenyans have registered for the medical scheme. He further noted that the online registration platform continues to attract between 40,000 and 60,000 new users daily.
“Since this morning, 21.7 million Kenyans have registered for SHA,” he announced. “Each day, thousands more join through the online system.”
In addition to high registration numbers, SHA has successfully partnered with over 8,000 healthcare facilities across the country to provide services under the scheme.
In a related update on Saturday, April 26, Duale clarified the scope of SHA’s benefits for educators. Teachers and their families are eligible to access healthcare through the Primary Healthcare Fund (PHC), the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and the Emergency, Critical, and Chronic Illness Fund (ECCIF).
This announcement reassures public servants that their health needs, along with those of their dependents, are fully catered for under the revamped health insurance model.
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CS Duale Reveals the Maximum Number of Wives and Children SHA Can Cover
