Kenyans without a National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) membership will not be able to access government services should a proposed law be passed by Parliament.

According to the NHIF Amendment Bill (2021), proof of an active NHIF membership will be a mandatory requirement just like the Kenya Revenue Authority Personal Identification Number (PIN).

Non-members will be barred from registering and transferring land titles or getting their development plans approved.

They will also miss out on the registration of business names and companies.

In addition, nonmembers will be denied customs clearing and forwarding services, as well as transfer and licensing of vehicles.

Businesspersons without the national medical cover risk losing tenders as they will be barred from supplying goods and services to the state.

Non-members will also be barred from opening accounts with financial institutions and underwriting insurance policies.

Even as Kenya is on the verge of increasing electricity coverage in the country, residents without NHIF will be left in the dark as they will not be able to pay deposits for power connections.

The amendment bill seeks to make it compulsory for every Kenyan aged 18 and above to be a member of the state-backed insurance cover. 

However, the monthly contributions for informal workers will be reduced from the current Ksh500 to Ksh300.