Kenya: Hospitals have until September 30 to renew their contract with the SHA

Kenyan health facilities must have signed their new contract with the Social Health Authority (SHA) before 11:59 p.m. on September 30, 2026, otherwise they will no longer be able to provide care to public policyholders starting October 1, the authority warned, according to Capital FM, as reported by allAfrica.

The contractual cycle that is opening runs from October 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029. Providers who have not finalized their files in time will have their access to the SHA portal deactivated, which effectively cuts them off from the public reimbursement system. "Providers without an executed contract will not be allowed to offer services to SHA beneficiaries after this date," said the authority's Director General, Mercy Mwangangi, as quoted by Capital FM.

HAKIKA, the new contracting platform

The renewal process is handled through HAKIKA, an electronic platform launched on September 18, 2026. It allows for online application submissions, uploading supporting documents, verifying licenses, executing contracts, and tracking the progress of files. According to the Kenyan site Kenyans.co.ke, the system also aims to clarify coverage conditions, reimbursement rates, quality standards, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

The contracts cover services funded by four funds: the Primary Health Care Fund, the Social Health Insurance Fund, the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, and the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund.

A reform born from criticisms of the system

This overhaul comes after months of criticism directed at the SHA by facilities: payment delays, rejection of reimbursement claims, and cumbersome prior authorization processes. The authority presents HAKIKA as a response to these grievances, promising greater transparency between the public payer and providers.

The most sensitive issue remains the continuity of care. The SHA has asked non-contracted facilities to refer their patients to contracted establishments. In rural areas where healthcare provision is already sparse, this transfer is far from straightforward and can significantly increase the distances to be traveled.

Kenya has embarked on one of the most ambitious universal health coverage reforms on the continent, watched closely from Accra to Kigali. Its success will be judged less by the quality of its digital platforms than by the ability of a villager to receive care without having to pay upfront. October 1, 2026, will constitute the first full-scale test of this new cycle.