The government has mandated that all students register for the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) before the start of the upcoming third term of the academic year. In a letter dated August 16, addressed to regional and county education heads, Education Principal Secretary Dr. Belio Kipsang emphasized that it is a constitutional requirement for all Kenyans to register with SHIF. He instructed students to enroll as dependents under their parents' SHIF accounts.

Dr. Kipsang also mentioned that the Ministry of Health, through the State Department for Medical Services, has introduced an enhanced benefit package for the Edu Afya program, which will be included in the SHIF coverage. He urged all students to complete their registration before schools reopen.

Students can register for SHIF via the official website, afyaangu.go.ke, or through the USSD code *147#. Additional registration options are available at sha.go.ke, and a soft copy of the registration manual can be accessed on the same site. For any issues during registration, the Social Health Authority's call center can be contacted at 0800720601, or via email at info@sha.go.ke.

The SHIF registration process began on July 1, 2024, under the leadership of former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha. However, the High Court declared the SHIF unconstitutional on July 12, 2024, citing a lack of public participation and concerns about the financial burden it would place on salaried individuals. The court's decision has been suspended for 120 days, giving Parliament time to amend the legislation, with the SHIF potentially being nullified on November 20, 2024.