Govt Moves All Police Officers to SHA After Teachers Mandatory Transition

The government has announced that all officers under the National Police Service (NPS) and the Kenya Prisons Service (KPS), along with their dependents, will now be covered under the Social Health Authority (SHA) medical scheme starting April 1, 2026.

According to the notice released by SHA, the current medical insurance cover for police officers will remain active until March 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m., after which the new system will officially take over.

Smooth Transition to New Medical Scheme

SHA Chief Executive Officer Mercy Mwangangi confirmed that the transition has been carefully planned to avoid any disruption in medical services.

She said that any officer or dependent already admitted to the hospital will continue receiving treatment without interruption, even after the new system begins.

However, in cases where patients are being treated in hospitals that are not part of the SHA network, arrangements will be made to transfer them to approved facilities to ensure continuous care.

Dependents and Registration Updates

SHA has urged all officers to ensure their registered dependents are up to date in the system to avoid any delays in accessing medical services.

Dependents can be added or updated by dialing *147#, or through the official portals www.sha.go.ke and www.afyayangu.go.ke.

The authority has also set up liaison officers in all counties and a dedicated hotline (0800 720 601) to respond to questions and assist officers during the transition.

Why Police Are Being Moved to SHA

This decision follows a directive from President William Ruto, who ordered that officers under the National Police Service and Kenya Prisons Service be moved into the Social Health Insurance Fund system as part of efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Previously, police officers were covered under private insurers such as APA and CIC. However, the old system faced challenges such as limited hospital access, delayed claims processing, and high operational costs.

Teachers Already Transitioned to SHA

This move comes shortly after the Teachers Service Commission also transferred more than 400,000 teachers and their dependents from Minet Kenya to the SHA medical scheme.

Under the teachers’ arrangement, dependents are limited to one declared spouse and up to five children. Children are covered up to age 21, or 25 if they are in full-time education, while disabled children have no age limit as long as they remain fully dependent.

What This Means for Officers

With the new system, the government says it expects improved access to healthcare, better coordination of services, and reduced delays in medical claims for officers and their families.

The SHA rollout is part of a wider reform aimed at standardizing healthcare coverage for public servants across the country.