Kenya's commitment to ensuring access to primary public health care services is enshrined in its legal and policy frameworks. The Constitution of Kenya, 2010, under Article 43(1)(a), guarantees every person "the right to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to health care services, including reproductive health care." To operationalize this constitutional mandate, the government has enacted the Primary Health Care Act, 2023, which provides a comprehensive framework for the delivery and management of primary health care services across the country. An integral aspect of Kenya's approach to universal health care is the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), designed to ensure equitable access to health care for all individuals, including vulnerable populations such as refugees. The SHIF consolidates various insurance schemes under one umbrella to pool resources and risks, providing a sustainable financing mechanism for universal health coverage (UHC). This initiative aligns with the government’s broader commitment to achieving UHC under its Vision 2030 development agenda.

Through the SHIF, refugees in Kenya are included as beneficiaries, underscoring Kenya’s recognition of health care as a fundamental human right. This policy allows refugees to access essential services, including preventive, curative, and emergency care, on par with Kenyan citizens. By extending coverage to all individuals within the country, the government ensures that no one is left behind in accessing quality health services.