Governors welcome SHA cover for Community Health Promoters

Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee at Bunge Towers in Nairobi on July 6, 2026. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

 Three governors from the Mt Kenya East region have welcomed the Community Health Promoters (CHPs) free medical cover under the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Governors Isaac Mutuma (Meru), Muthomi Njuki (Tharaka Nithi) and Embu's Cecily Mbarire said the CHPs who play an important role in preventive, promotive and provision of basic primary healthcare at the grassroots across the country should also benefit from the free health insurance.

Speaking during a consultative meeting with thousands of CHPs from the three counties and other grassroots leaders, the county bosses welcomed the partnership between the national government and the devolved units in empowering CHPs.

Governor Mutuma said the CHPs deserve the medical cover for the crucial role they play in the country's healthcare system.

"They too will access SHA cover, paid for by the government, in recognition of the essential work they do serving our communities," he said.

Governor Njuki said: "The commitment to extend government-funded SHA cover to Community Health Promoters is a welcome recognition of the essential work they play in serving the people."

Governor Mbarire said the CHPs do a lot of work in the delivery of health services.

"Community Health Promoters and grassroots leaders play a vital role in connecting government with the people, strengthening service delivery and driving community development," she said.

The CHPs, trained by the government, are a frontline group of health workers tasked with preventive, promotive and delivery of basic primary health services at the grassroots, across the country.

Access to SHA by the workers and their families had been a pressing issue.

Recently, President William Ruto announced that all CHPs will be enrolled under SHA, with Sh390 million already set aside for the programme. Counties will contribute half the amount.

"It cannot be that they are helping us serve Kenyans yet they and their families have no medical cover," Ruto said.

Ruto directed every CHP to receive a new screening kit and smartphone within 90 days under a digitisation push.