Kenyan county hospitals have until 14 October to sign SHA contracts, with no extension

Existing Social Health Authority (SHA) contracts with county public health facilities will expire on 14 October 2026 and will not be extended again, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and the Council of Governors (CoG) agreed on 5 October, Capital FM reported the same day.

The agreement was reached at a consultative meeting at Afya House in Nairobi chaired by Duale and Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, who chairs the CoG health committee, Citizen Digital reported on 5 October. It covers the SHA's 2026–2029 contracting cycle, known as HAKIKA.

Eastleigh Voice reported on 5 October that the deal followed concerns raised by governors in a 28 September letter to SHA chief executive Mercy Mwangangi about the proposed contracts.

In a joint statement quoted by Capital FM, the parties said: "Our shared aim is that every eligible county health facility is contracted, paid on time and able to serve SHA beneficiaries without interruption."

Facilities that meet the other requirements have 30 days to submit outstanding documents, Capital FM and The Standard reported on 5 October. The five documents are a National Social Security Fund (NSSF) compliance certificate, a National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) licence, a fire safety certificate, a National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) compliance certificate and an Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) certificate. The Star reported on 5 October that this period does not exempt facilities from their statutory obligations.

SHA will accept documents held at county level, Citizen Digital and The Star reported. Citizen Digital listed establishment instruments, gazettements, KRA PINs, tax compliance letters, NSSF compliance verification and ODPC registrations. The Standard reported that Level 4 and Level 5 facilities must supply their latest audited financial statements, and that laboratory, pharmacy and imaging licences remain mandatory for them where applicable.

Business Daily reported on 5 October that facilities will be contracted only for services for which they are licensed. It named the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board for laboratory services, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board for pharmacy and the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority for imaging, and said Level 4 and Level 5 facilities have three months to meet the mandatory laboratory licensing requirements.

On payment, Capital FM reported that clean claims will be paid within 90 days of receipt, in the order received. Claims left unpaid because funds are insufficient will be recognised as certified liabilities and carried forward for settlement within the same financial year.

Under the new structure, a provider signs one Master General Terms and Conditions agreement and then separate contracts for the Primary Healthcare Fund, the Social Health Insurance Fund, the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund and the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund, Citizen Digital reported. Each county facility keeps its own contract, with the County Executive Committee Member for Health coordinating, The Standard reported.

SHA will run HAKIKA contracting clinics in every county until 14 October. A joint technical committee of SHA, the CoG and county health departments will oversee implementation, The Standard reported.

The CoG has also committed to support Level 5 hospitals in completing their move to the Health Management Information System by 30 October 2026, Capital FM reported.