SHA to cover mental health patients – Duale

David Nthua 08th October, 2025 04:29 PM

Caption:Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale says SHA will cover mental health care. VIDEO/K24TV

The Aden Duale-led Ministry of Health has announced that mental health services have been included in the Social Health Authority benefits package.

Through a press statement on Facebook on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, the ministry said the move aims to ease the financial burden on Kenyans who have been struggling to care for relatives battling mental illness.

Also watch: “SHA will settle all the hospital claims by the 14th of each month” – CS Duale

“For the first time, mental health services are now part of the national insurance benefits package, ensuring that no Kenyan has to choose between caring for their mind and feeding their family,” the statement read in part.

The new inclusion, the ministry said, will form part of the Taifa Care Model, which falls under the Social Health Authority (SHA).

It is expected to make mental health treatment more accessible through both public and accredited private facilities across the country.

Kenya’s decision comes amid growing concern over the rising cases of mental illness, especially among young people and working adults.

Health experts have repeatedly raised an alarm over the cost of treatment, with many families unable to afford therapy or medication.

Health CS Aden Duale delivers a keynote speech in New York. PHOTO/@HonAdenDuale/X

Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the government was working to make care more inclusive and community-based through a network of over 107,000 digitally trained Community Health Promoters. “This is part of a broader plan to bring essential services closer to the people,” he said.

Mental health advocates have welcomed the move, saying it marks progress in policy reform. However, they urged the government to ensure that the rollout is not slowed down by poor funding or bureaucracy.

SHA’s hits

Despite the announcement, many Kenyans have expressed scepticism over whether the Social Health Authority can deliver on its promises.

The agency, which replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), has in the past faced criticism over slow claim approvals, limited coverage, and inadequate infrastructure in rural areas.

Public health experts say that while integrating mental health into the SHA package is a positive step, implementation will determine its success.

Also, SHA has been marred with ghost hospitals, ghost patients and disbursing claim payments to non-existent facilities while legit ones remain in the dark.

The Ministry of Health said the plan is guided by the Mental Health Act 2023 and the Kenya Mental Health Policy, which recognise mental health as a basic human right.

As Kenya marks this policy shift, attention now turns to how the Social Health Authority will handle implementation and whether it can rebuild public confidence after years of inefficiency and delayed payments.