Kenyan Lawmakers Scrutinize Proposed SHIF Rules for Polygamous Families

The proposed amendments to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) have sparked a debate regarding the treatment of polygamous families.

During a recent Parliamentary meeting between the National Assembly Delegated Legislation Committee and officials from the Health Ministry, lawmakers expressed concerns over the current proposal which mandates individuals with multiple spouses to pay additional premiums under the medical scheme. Under the existing rules, a man with two wives is required to contribute a 2.75% premium for each wife as they are considered separate households.

This effectively doubles the contribution rate to 5.5% for such a scenario. However, the Members of Parliament (MPs) advocate for a review of this proposal, suggesting that the term ‘additional spouse’ be replaced with ‘households.’ If approved, this modification would mean that a man with two wives would only need to pay a 2.75% premium as it would be recognized as a single household. Responding to these concerns, Principal Secretary for Medical Services Harry Kimtai assures the lawmakers that the proposal would be considered and the language refined.

Committee Chairperson Samuel Chepkonga directs the PS to provide a corrigendum, a document detailing corrected work, within a week, incorporating the necessary changes. The Committee also raises questions about whether the proposed regulations would meet the expectations of Kenyans. The legislators emphasize the need to review all considerations from Kenyans before implementing the new medical scheme. The Health Ministry has stipulated that all Kenyans should register with the SHIF by June 30, 2024, in preparation for the official rollout on July 1, 2024.

In the interim, Kenyans will continue contributing to the initial National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) until the new scheme takes over. This is a significant development in the health insurance landscape in Kenya.