SHA SHUTS ALL REGIONAL OFFICES AS STAFF RELOCATED TO COUNTIES AND NATIONAL HQ

The Social Health Authority (SHA) has announced the closure of all its regional and sub-county offices across Kenya in a sweeping restructuring move.

The decision, officials say, is aimed at streamlining operations, cutting administrative costs, and centralising service delivery. Staff have now been redeployed to county headquarters, while the authority’s Upper Hill offices in Nairobi remain the national operational hub.

The changes follow months of review since SHA took over the mandate of the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). Many of the closed offices were inherited from NHIF, leaving hundreds of staff unsettled as they await clearer direction on their new roles.

A memo from SHA Chief Executive Officer Mercy Mwangangi outlined the rationale behind the reforms. She explained that consolidating services is part of a wider realignment to support the government’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.

Mwangangi noted that the structural shift would not only improve efficiency but also reduce duplication of roles. She emphasised that digitisation of processes will be prioritised to ease access to services for Kenyans in every county.

The reorganisation now positions Nairobi’s Upper Hill as the sole national command centre, with county-level offices expected to handle local service delivery. While some employees have expressed concern over disruption, SHA has maintained that the restructuring will ultimately strengthen the health financing system.

The authority has assured that the reforms are long-term measures designed to create a sustainable and efficient pathway towards achieving universal healthcare for all citizens.