Otieno Otieno, a resident of Kiambu County, remembers the day vividly-June 15, 2025-when a teacher called to inform him that his 12-year-old daughter had fallen ill at school with acute stomach pains.
Without hesitation, Otieno directed her to the nearest hospital.
However, instead of receiving care through the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), under which he had diligently registered her, he was hit with a Sh1,000 consultation fee followed by another Sh800 for medication. "I thought SHIF would cover my daughter but I ended up paying everything out of pocket," says Otieno, whose SHIF premiums are deducted monthly by his employer.
Weeks later, his eight-year-old son also fell ill.
