Nearly six out of 10 Kenyans have no health insurance, according to the 2025–26 Kenya Mini Demographic and Health Survey released in October 2026 by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), highlighting gaps in financial protection as households continue to face the cost of medical care.
The survey, conducted between November 2025 and February 2026, found that only 40.3 percent of the population had some form of medical cover, while 59.7 percent had no insurance or were unsure of their coverage status. The findings show that the Social Health Authority (SHA) accounted for 39.4 percent of the population, while private medical insurance covered 1.1 percent.
The figures reveal significant differences in access to healthcare financing across income groups and regions. Only 24 percent of people in the poorest households had health insurance, compared with 52 percent among those in the wealthiest households.
Urban residents recorded higher coverage at 43.9 percent, compared with 38 percent among rural residents. The disparities were even wider across counties, with Nyeri recording the highest insurance coverage at 66.9 percent, followed by Elgeyo-Marakwet at 65.2 percent and Kirinyaga at 60.7 percent.
Tana River had the lowest coverage at 13.7 percent, followed by Isiolo at 18.5 percent, Garissa at 23.2 percent and Mandera at 24 percent. Women were slightly more likely to have insurance than men, with coverage standing at 42.4 percent and 38.2 percent respectively.
The survey also raises questions about whether SHA registration is translating into consistent contributions. Among registered contributing members, only 43.9 percent had paid their premiums for the current month, while 52 percent had not and 4.1 percent were unsure of their payment status.
The findings come two years after SHA replaced the National Hospital Insurance Fund in October 2024, introducing a new financing framework built around primary healthcare, social health insurance and emergency, chronic and critical illness coverage.
The latest figures highlight the challenge facing the government as it seeks to expand universal health coverage while ensuring that registered members can maintain contributions and access services. The effectiveness of the system will increasingly depend on affordability, enrolment and consistent payments.
