During his address on the state of the nation on Thursday, November 20th 2025, President William Ruto placed a sigh of relief in the faces of Kenyans especially those affected by cancer.
Ruto promised to boost the cancer cover from the current Ksh. 550,000 to Ksh. 800,000 effective December 1st 2025, a move that is likely to enhance public perception of the government.
The state of the nation address is a reprieve for many Kenyans staring down soaring hospital bills.
According to the President, this move will spare families from financial ruin while they fight for their health. “Patients can now access uninterrupted, quality care without landing in debt,” he declared.
He further gave a shout-out to SHA’s rapid growth: 27 million Kenyans are now on the books, more than triple the coverage under the old NHIF.
According to the President, over 10,000 health facilities are now accredited to serve SHA members.
However, he didn’t fail to note that good health doesn’t just begin in hospitals and reminded Parliament of
107,000 Community Health Promoters.
According to the President, though less celebrated, the community health workers have visited 8.9 million households, carried out nearly 10 million diabetes screenings, and followed up with millions for hypertension checks, an achievement worth appreciation.
There’s also a financial safety net: the government is paying premiums for 2.3 million vulnerable people including orphans, widows, the elderly, and others who can’t afford
Ruto claimed that the SHA reforms offers “the most ambitious health-system transformation since independence,” built on equity, innovation, and dignity.
