Migori County sets Pace with SHA as Lipa Pole Pole Strategy gains Momentum

Currently, 40% of Migori residents are registered under SHA – a solid start, but the aim is full coverage.

In a strategic move, 700 digital devices will be distributed today to all health facilities, marking the start of county-wide digital transformation.

Today, Dr. Ouma Oluga (PS, Medical Services), Dr. Mercy Mwangangi (SHA CEO), and Eng. Antony Lenaiyara (Atg. CEO, Digital Health Agency) visited Dr. Ochillo Ayacko, Governor of Migori County.

The mission? To supercharge the county’s Social Health Authority (SHA) activation ahead of its official launch

SHA Progress & Digital Push in Migori

Facility onboarding: 81 of Migori’s 177 health sites are now on the SHA portal – nearly half.

With KES 161 million disbursed of the targeted KES 1.2 billion, the goal is to fully integrate all facilities and circulate the full funds within the local health ecosystem.

Digital rollout: Over 170 health facilities have undergone digital transformation training. The rollout of 700 devices today represents a major acceleration.

Resident registration: With 400,000 residents (40%) already on-boarded, efforts are ramping up to enroll the remaining 60%.

These milestones signal a decisive shift toward inclusivity, transparency, and sustainability in health financing.

The “Lipa SHA Pole Pole” Model

Kenya recently launched the “Lipa SHA Pole Pole” payment framework, championed by H.E. President Ruto on Madaraka Day, June 1, 2025.

It allows informal workers to make flexible SHA premium payments – monthly, weekly, or even daily – via Hustler Fund loans repayable over 12 months .

Why this matters:

• It lowers economic barriers for low-income earners.
• Over 1.7 million informal households have already enrolled—marking a historic spike in SHA uptake .
• It’s fully digital via USSD codes (*147#, *254#) and M-PESA integration .

Migori Health Snapshot

Migori County, home to about 1.1M people with ~43% living below the poverty line, faces healthcare challenges including malaria, HIV/AIDS, and respiratory infections.

It has four district hospitals and five sub-county facilities. Recent investments include a KES 220 million DNA/PCR molecular diagnostic lab at Migori County Referral Hospital – the first of its kind in western Kenya .

Digital health tools like the eCHIS app have improved community healthcare delivery, boosting immunization by 15% and antenatal visits by 14%.

Why is Migori’s SHA Activation Significant?

Inclusion: Flexible payments unlock access for informal workers.

Efficiency: Digitalization speeds up claims, improves data, and ensures timely reimbursements.

Trust: Disbursement of KES 161M and ongoing rollout show strong commitment.

Health outcomes: Molecular diagnostics and digital tools are revolutionizing care.

So, What’s Ahead? 

To achieve full SHA activation in Migori, the next steps include:

• Scaling enrolment to reach the remaining 60%.
• Onboarding all 177 facilities with real-time digital systems.
• Circulating the remaining KES 1.04 billion to sustain high-quality care.
• Ensuring communities understand and trust the “Lipa SHA Pole Pole” system -especially its linkages to Hustler Fund and loan repayment.
• Leveraging diagnostics and eCHIS data to drive preventive health strategies.

In a Nutshell…..

Migori’s health transformation embodies the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). By putting together:

Policy innovations like flexible premium payments,

Digital infrastructure spanning facility-based and community health systems,

Substantive investment in diagnostics and flow of funds,

Migori stands as a model for counties across Kenya.

If successful, the county’s full SHA activation could significantly improve health outcomes and financial protection for its residents.