Include Assistive Devices in SHA Now

Every day in Kenya, children miss school, parents lose jobs, and older persons remain confined to their homes, not because they lack strength or determination, but because they lack something as basic as a prosthetic limb, a wheelchair, a hearing aid, or crutches.

According to the 2019 census by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, nearly one million Kenyans live with some form of disability. That is 1 in every 45 Kenyans. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that over 2.5 billion people require at least one assistive product, and nearly 1 billion are denied access, most of them in low- and middle-income countries.

In Kenya today, many persons with disabilities are locked out of mobility, education, employment, and independence simply because assistive devices are not covered under the Social Health Authority (SHA). This must change.

What is the problem?

The Social Health Authority (SHA) currently does not provide comprehensive coverage for assistive devices such as prosthetic limbs, orthotics, wheelchairs, hearing aids, crutches, and other essential mobility and rehabilitation products.

This exclusion places an unbearable financial burden on persons with disabilities and their families.

Assistive devices are expensive. The cost of a single prosthetic limb can equal several months, even years, of household income. Paediatric devices must be replaced as children grow. Wheelchairs and orthotic supports require maintenance and repair. Without insurance coverage, these costs are paid entirely out of pocket.

For most families, this makes assistive devices simply out of reach.

And when assistive devices are out of reach, the consequences are severe:

Children drop out of school because they cannot walk long distances or access classrooms.
Breadwinners lose employment due to limited mobility.
Families sell land or assets, pushing themselves deeper into poverty.
Preventable health complications such as pressure sores, spinal deformities, and joint damage increase.
Dependency replaces independence, undermining dignity and participation in society.

Excluding assistive devices from SHA effectively excludes persons with disabilities from meaningful access to healthcare, education, employment, and public life.

This is not just a gap in coverage. It is a structural barrier that deepens inequality and entrenches poverty.

What can you do to help?

Sign this petition and call on the Ministry of Health to ensure the Social Health Authority includes assistive devices such as prosthetics, orthotics, wheelchairs, hearing aids, crutches, and pediatric devices in the SHA benefits package; covers initial fittings and necessary replacements, especially for growing children; provides for repair and maintenance services; and accredits qualified rehabilitation and prosthetic/orthotic providers to guarantee quality, safe, and accessible care for all.