Concerns raised over new SHA 'Lipa Pole Pole' model

A section of Kenyans has voiced concerns over the Lipa Pole Pole contribution model introduced at the Social Health Authority (SHA), questioning the relationship between SHA and the Financial Inclusion Fund, popularly known as the Hustler Fund.

Under the new staggered payment plan, which took effect in June, self-employed Kenyans are now required to clear the annual subscription to SHA in lump sum through a Hustler Fund loan, scrapping off the monthly contributions.

The move has now caused jitters amongst Kenyans on the loans being shoved into their already bleeding pockets.

After nearly 9 months of making monthly payments to SHA, Lawrence Okumu, like millions of other Kenyans, is now left at a crossroads.

His attempt to pay the Ksh.750 monthly payment failed, with the system demanding a lump sum payment of Ksh.5,250 to clear the due remittances for the remaining months of the year — a prompt on his phone leading him to the Lipa Pole Pole option where he will be offered a mobile loan facility.

"Hustler Fund inaniambia I am supposed to pay Ksh.12,375 per year na nikiangalia difference juu saa hii nalipa Ksh.9,000 every year…sasa difference Ksh.3,375. Sasa as a common mwananchi siwezi afford kupata hiyo pesa within one day," Okumu, a rider, stated.

"Kama Ksh.600 ndio ilinishinda kulipa, what about hiyo Ksh.3,600? Afadhali wawache tu watu walipe vile walikuwanga wanalipa kitambo," George Martin, a driver, noted.

During his Madaraka Day speech, President William Ruto unveiled the annual payment to SHA, integrating it with the Hustler Fund ecosystem, where self-employed Kenyans who are unable to afford the annual lump sum will be given a loan, which they will choose to repay either daily, weekly or monthly.

"Hii loan unatupea kama hapo nyuma ndio hujatupea loan inatosha hiyo kiwango. Sasa saa hii, hii pesa unatoa wapi ya kutuongeza loan tu mara moja?" Lawrence Opondo, a Kisumu resident, pointed out.

"Heri tu nijisort na hii yangu kidogo yenye napata. Ata kama ni ten, naweza sunda ata 5 bob ingine nikijua hii ni ya matibabu," Josiah Otieno, a tout, highlighted.

According to State House, 23.3 million Kenyans have registered to SHA, with 2,946 being enrolled on the Lipa Pole Pole programme.