Learners have been asked to register for the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) before the third term begins next week.
Through this registration the government says it is enhancing the recently dropped Edu Afya medical programme whose scrapping caused furore.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang has asked regional and county directors of education to fast-track the listing.
“All school-going children must be registered as dependents of their parents before the school opening dates for the third term of 2024,” Dr Kipsang said in the August 16 memo.
Schools have, therefore, asked parents and guardians to register the learners through the Social Health Authority website (sha.go.ke) or afyangu.ke, or by dialing *147#.
“This is therefore to ask you to communicate this information to all parents and schools under your purview that they ensure all students are registered to Social Health Insurance Fund,” Dr Kipsang added.
The migration to SHIF began on July 1, but the Court of Appeal extended a stay on the High Court order halting the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to SHIF on August 15.
In the ruling, the three-judge bench of Justices Francis Tuiyott, Ali Aroni, and Lydia Achode ordered that the status quo remain until September 20 when a ruling will be delivered.
However, the Bench exempted Sections 26(5) and 27 of the Social Health Insurance Act with these sections of the law requiring SHIF contribution as a condition for accessing public services.
The National Assembly and the Ministry of Health had contested the suspension of the statutes.
The High Court declared the Social Health Insurance Act unconstitutional on July 12, citing inadequate public participation and disparities within that law.
However, the High Court suspended the nullification of the Act for 120 days to allow Parliament time to address the inconsistencies.
