Photo of the Milimani High Court in Nairobi, Kenya. /STREAMLINE

South Sudanese travelling to Kenya for medical treatment and leisure will need a minimum of $50,000 in travel health insurance if the High Court in Nairobi dismisses a legal challenge against the mandate on September 29.

According to Kenyan media report, a petition jointly filed by Vantage Point Ventures and consumer watchdog Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek) contests regulations gazetted by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale under the Social Health Insurance Act of 2023.

On Sunday, August 2, Kenyan media reported that Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale issued new rules requiring travelers entering Kenya to carry health insurance with a minimum policy benefit of Ksh 6.4 million ($50,000).

Under the new law, every foreign visitor entering Kenya must hold a health policy offering at least $50,000 in coverage. This includes up to KSh 2.5 million for medical bills, KSh 3.2 million for emergency airlift, and over KSh 640,000 for repatriation.

However, the petitioners argue the scheme was rolled out unconstitutionally to benefit a pre-selected group of insurers without fair competition.

They accuse the Insurance Regulatory Authority of favoring specific firms—notably placing Kenya Reinsurance Corporation as the pool manager—while sidelining other market players who had developed compliant products.

The suit also criticizes the Competition Authority of Kenya for failing to investigate alleged market manipulation and price-fixing.

The High Court is expected to issue directions on whether to freeze the policy when the case comes up for mention late next month.