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A new healthcare contracting framework has been announced by the Social Health Authority for providers nationwide. The new cycle has been scheduled to commence on October 1, 2026, according to SHA.
The arrangements will remain effective until June 30, 2029, under newly prepared agreements. Healthcare providers and facilities will therefore operate under revised contractual terms during the period.
Four separate contracts have been prepared to cover different healthcare financing arrangements administered through SHA. The agreements will cover primary healthcare, social health insurance, emergency care and public officers’ medical services.
Four Funds Covered
The Primary Health Care Fund contract will govern facilities delivering services classified under primary healthcare. Specific responsibilities and obligations will be outlined for participating providers under the proposed agreement.
The Social Health Insurance Fund contract will establish requirements for facilities offering services covered through SHIF. Providers participating in the fund will consequently be required to comply with specified contractual obligations.
Emergency, chronic and critical illness services will fall under a separate contractual arrangement. The ECCIF agreement will establish conditions for facilities handling patients requiring those specialised healthcare services.
Public officers will also receive healthcare services under another dedicated contracting arrangement. The Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund contract will determine participation requirements for providers serving government employees.
Providers Invited to Review Proposals
Healthcare providers and other stakeholders have been invited to examine the proposed contracts. Comments and recommendations have been requested through an online submission platform before the deadline.
Submissions will remain open until September 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Providers have therefore been given a limited period to raise concerns regarding the proposed arrangements.
Virtual sensitisation meetings have also been scheduled across Kenya’s 47 counties before implementation begins. The sessions will introduce providers to the e-contracting system and explain their obligations.
Facilities have been grouped according to their classification for the sensitisation sessions. Levels Five and Six facilities will participate on September 9 between 9 a.m. and noon.
Level Four facilities will attend another session between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The remaining sessions will cover Levels Three and Two on September 10.
Level Three facilities have been scheduled between 9 a.m. and noon that day. Level Two facilities will participate between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Meeting access details will be distributed through SHA county offices before the sessions. Providers have consequently been encouraged to engage with the process before the new contracts take effect.
Community Health Workers Also Integrated
The contracting changes have emerged alongside wider reforms within Kenya’s healthcare financing system. Community Health Promoters have increasingly been incorporated into digital health infrastructure under government direction.
President William Ruto directed the integration of more than 107,000 Community Health Promoters into SHA arrangements. Their stipend arrangements have also been scheduled for review by December 2026.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale previously announced that verification would precede the integration process. The process was scheduled to begin on August 20 and 21 following verification.
The government has continued linking community healthcare workers with the country’s digital health systems. The changes are intended to strengthen coordination between frontline healthcare services and national health financing structures.
Legal Basis for New Contracts
SHA has linked the contracting process to requirements established under the Social Health Insurance Act. The legislation requires healthcare providers and facilities to undergo inspection, licensing and certification before contracting.
The authority has consequently positioned the new agreements within the existing legal framework. Providers will be expected to satisfy relevant regulatory requirements before participating under the new contracting cycle.
The upcoming changes will therefore affect how healthcare providers engage with SHA from October. Facilities have been given an opportunity to influence the proposed arrangements before implementation through stakeholder feedback.
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