The Social Health Authority (SHA) has launched a sponsorship programme that allows individuals, companies, government institutions and other organisations to pay contributions for eligible Kenyans, including low‑income households, children, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

Sponsorships are made through the Bima Bora, Afya Nyumbani programme, where sponsors contribute to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) to enable beneficiaries to access the same benefits as regular SHA members.

Sponsors must commit to covering each beneficiary for a minimum of 12 months and ensure that the beneficiary has completed registration and means testing before any payment is processed.

Potential sponsors include national and county governments, MPs via the NG‑CDF, private firms, NGOs, development partners, faith‑based groups, SACCOs, community organisations, families and private individuals.

Sponsors can either upload their own list of beneficiaries or select individuals from pre‑defined categories on SHA’s portal, such as teenage mothers, vulnerable children or indigent households.

When using a self‑generated list, sponsors must fill a template with accurate names, ID numbers and contact details, confirm that each person is registered with SHA, has added eligible dependants and completed means testing, then submit the list for validation before a Payment Reference Number (PRN) is issued.

The PRN acts as an invoice showing the premium amount due; sponsors must verify the details and pay through the official channels, quoting the PRN in bank transfers or using it as the M‑Pay account number.

After payment, sponsors should retain receipts or transaction confirmations and forward them together with the PRN to SHA’s sponsorship team, as payment alone does not automatically activate the health cover.

Assistance with registration, list preparation or payment verification can be obtained by emailing [email protected] or visiting the nearest SHA County Office or Huduma Centre.

SHA has already recognised the national government’s Health Insurance Subsidy Programme, listing 590,986 households sponsored under President William Samoei Ruto’s National Government Sponsorship category, and has also named several MPs in a separate edition.