President William Ruto has picked Dr. Mohammed Abdi as chairperson of the Social Health Authority (SHA), to immediately replace Dr. Timothy Olweny who served in the same position since November 2023.
In a Gazette notice, Ruto said that Dr Mohammed’s appointment, which is set for three years, would take effect immediately.
The appointment of Dr Mohammed, who served in the same government agency as a member, tasked with implementing the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) to provide Universal Health Coverage, comes at a time when the government is seeking to rollout SHIF on October 1, 2024, replacing the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
“The President of the Republic of Kenya and the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint Mohammed Abdi Mohammed (Dr.) to be the Chairperson of the Social Health Authority, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 17th September 2024,” Ruto said in a Gazette notice issued on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.
Meanwhile, the appointment of Amref Health Africa Group chief executive, Dr. Githinji Gitahi, who has been serving as the Board’s chairperson for two years, has been revoked, with the former SHA chairperson Olweny being appointed to serve as chairperson of the Board of the National Cancer Institute for three years.
“The Cabinet Secretary for Health appoints Timothy Olweny to be the Chairperson of the Board of the National Cancer Institute, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 17th September, 2024. The appointment* of Gitahi Githinji (Dr.) is revoked,” the notice read in part.
The deadline for the mandatory registration is set at September 30, 2024, and will see workers in the formal sector contribute 2.75 per cent of their monthly salaries to the fund. Thise in the informal sector will part with Sh500 every month.
