The World Bank has urged the government to reconsider adjustments to President William Ruto's flagship project, the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which birthed the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), amid growing concerns from Kenyans.
In its latest report released on May 27 under the theme Public Finance Review (PFR), the international lender called for a review of both the rollout and the approach to funding the programme, especially the financial burden placed on citizens.
The bank warned that implementing SHIF in an economy dominated by informal employment would pose serious funding constraints, projecting that the scheme would only raise Ksh67 billion annually, far below its Ksh157 billion target.
It also advised the government to exempt low-wage earners in the formal sector from SHIF contributions.
