Government launches TaifaCare in Kisumu, eyes inclusive digital health

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the County Government of Kisumu, has officially launched the Social Health Authority (SHA) and TaifaCare in Kisumu County, a step forward in Kenya’s journey toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Led by Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale and Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong’o, the rollout was also attended by SHA CEO Dr. Mercy Mwangangi and Digital Health Authority (DHA) CEO Eng. Antony Lenaiyara. 

The event marked Kisumu as a model county for digital innovation, health equity, and people-centered care.

Speaking at the launch event held at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), CS Duale emphasized the government’s commitment to making healthcare equitable, affordable, and transparent for all Kenyans.

 “With TaifaCare, citizens are no longer left behind due to inability to pay. The introduction of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), Primary Health Care Fund, Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, and the Digital Health Infrastructure all work together to ensure effective service coverage,” said Duale.

He added, “As we move forward with UHC, we are focusing on four essential areas: digital health transformation, access to essential medicines, investment in healthcare workers, and fair, sustainable health financing.”

The CS noted that Kisumu County will receive 1,020 tablets and 220 desktops to support digitization, especially at the community and facility levels. 

Already, 597,634 residents more than half of Kisumu’s 1.15 million population have registered with SHA, and 200,337 people have undergone means testing, with an average contribution of Sh 523.

 “In Kisumu County, of the 397 facilities, 192 are already transacting with SHA, and 175,700 hospital visits have been recorded under the system,” he said.

Nationally, CS Duale said, Sh 3.7 billion in claims have been approved to date, with Kisumu County benefiting from Sh165 million under the primary healthcare component alone.

Cancer Equipment Commissioned, Digital Milestones Celebrated

During the same event, Duale commissioned a state-of-the-art CT scan and mammogram machine at JOOTRH and announced plans to fast-track the completion of a regional cancer center that will serve the entire Lake Region Economic Bloc.

 “This will be a game changer for the 14 counties in this region. No patient should have to travel to Nairobi for cancer care,” he said.

JOOTRH, which recently transitioned to the national government, now operates as a key referral facility under the Ministry of Health.

Kisumu has already digitized 39 public health facilities, enabling seamless patient journeys from registration, consultation, lab, to pharmacy.

 “That’s what the digital health superhighway means transparency and efficiency from start to finish,” Duale said.

Governor Nyong’o hailed the rollout as a transformative milestone and reaffirmed Kisumu’s leadership in health sector innovation.

“Today marks an indelible point in Kisumu County as we officially activate TaifaCare. It aligns seamlessly with our ongoing efforts to digitize services and build a people-centered health system,” said Nyong’o.

He noted that Kisumu began its digitization journey with siloed HIV treatment applications before expanding to integrated platforms like KenyaEMR, now operational in 28 facilities.

To overcome high costs, the county , Nyong'o said adopted a public-private model to roll out digital health services in major hospitals such as Kisumu County Referral Hospital, Kombewa, and Ahero.

“ While effective, these models couldn’t scale across all primary facilities, a gap the national TaifaCare program is now helping to close”.

Nyong’o highlighted the launch of the Kisumu County Digital Health Transformation Roadmap and the Kisumu Data Repository Architecture during the Lake Region Digital Health Conference in October 2024. These frameworks, developed through multisectoral collaboration, are already streamlining data use, planning, and real-time decision-making.

 “Our systems are in place, our people are ready, and our vision for household-level healthcare is taking shape,” said Nyong’o. “This national partnership helps us go further, faster.”

Community Outreach and Technological Integration

SHA CEO Dr. Mercy Mwangangi confirmed that over 200,000 households in Kisumu are already covered under SHA, adding that TaifaCare is not just about insurance but full health system reform.

“TaifaCare is not just a programme. It is a unified national scheme that provides comprehensive cover for all Kenyans from preventive care to chronic disease management,” said Dr. Mwangangi.

She also highlighted the introduction of the ‘Lipa SHA Pole Pole’ model, which allows households to pay their contributions in manageable installments.

DHA CEO Eng. Lenaiyara said the provision of digital tools such as tablets and desktops would support biometric registration, real-time data sharing, and elimination of ghost patients and claims.

“From biometric data to real-time dashboards, everything is connected and visible,” he said.

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