With many of the best rehabilitation centers in Kenya charging upwards of KES 200,000 for a three-month programme, treatment is out of reach for many families who urgently need it. The good news: a number of rehabs in Kenya that accept SHA let you avoid paying the full cost out of pocket.
In this 2026 review we list the top 10 SHA-accredited rehabs in Kenya, explain exactly what the SHA rehab package covers, break down the different schemes, and show you step by step how to use SHA for rehab and mental health treatment.
Quick answer: Yes – SHA covers drug and alcohol rehabilitation at accredited facilities. Ordinary members get up to KES 67,200 per year toward a 3-month programme (you top up the rest); civil servants can get full cover under the POMSF scheme. Only KMPDC-licensed hospitals and nursing homes qualify for SHA accreditation.
Top 10 SHA-accredited rehabs in Kenya
The Social Health Authority (SHA) is the public body that runs Kenya’s universal healthcare system, replacing the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) on 1 October 2024. SHA administers schemes covering mental health and rehabilitation, so insured Kenyans can access approved facilities where treatment is partly or fully covered. Below are the best rehabilitation centers in Kenya that accept SHA.
- Primrose Rehab and Wellness – top-rated residential rehab known for patient-centred care.
- Chiromo Bustani – hospital-based rehab in the Chiromo Hospital Group, founded by Dr Frank Njenga.
- The Retreat – branches in Ngong and Limuru, under the Chiromo Hospital Group.
- Zawena Treatment Center – fast-rising centre on Ndumberi–Limuru Road, Kiambu.
- Nueva Esperanza Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre – private residential centre in Membley, Ruiru.
- Lifebridge Hospital – hospital-based centre on the Northern Bypass, Roysambu/Mirema.
- Blessed Talbot Treatment Center – Level 4B psychiatric facility in Ndumberi, Kiambu.
- Mariakani Nursing and Rehabilitation Center – Level 3 facility in South C, Nairobi.
- JOMEC Rehabilitation Center – long-running centre linked to former NACADA chairman John Mututho.
- Nairobi Place Rehab Center – Karen-based centre offering a shorter inpatient-plus-aftercare model.
1. Primrose Rehab and Wellness – best SHA-accredited rehab
Primrose Rehab and Wellness is a reputable rehabilitation centre near Nairobi treating substance use disorders and related mental health conditions. It offers residential treatment using a holistic, client-centred approach that combines medical care, counselling, family therapy and wellness activities for long-term recovery.
Run by a multidisciplinary team of consultant psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, nutritionists and spiritual leaders, its trauma-informed model suits most clients. Primrose is among the few rehabilitation centers in Kenya that accept the SHA insurance cover and also works with several private insurers. It sits in a quiet setting along Kiambu Road.
2. Chiromo Bustani
Chiromo Bustani is a well-known rehab in Kenya that accepts SHA and private insurance. Part of the Chiromo Hospital Group founded by Dr Frank Njenga, it treats alcohol and drug addiction, mental health disorders and psychological issues through psychiatric evaluation, detox, counselling and psychoeducation.
Recognised for its clinical, structured care plans led by psychiatrists, it also offers medical management and advanced therapies when needed. Despite some negative publicity in recent years, it remains a top choice. Chiromo Bustani is in Lavington, Nairobi.
3. The Retreat
The Retreat is a well-established rehabilitation centre in the Nairobi area treating substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions, with branches in Ngong and Limuru and both residential and outpatient programmes.
A multidisciplinary team builds individualised plans covering medical care, individual and group therapy, family therapy and aftercare, with social, spiritual and wellness elements. The Retreat accepts SHA cover and multiple private insurers, making professional addiction care more accessible.
4. Zawena Treatment Center
Zawena is among the best rehabilitation centers in Kenya that accept full or partial SHA payments alongside private insurance. It sits along Ndumberi–Limuru Road in Kiambu County’s quiet tea-growing belt and treats all substance use disorders plus various psychiatric conditions.
As a SHA-accredited rehab, Zawena takes partial SHA payments for ordinary-scheme members and full payments for civil servants, and accepts a range of private insurers.
5. Nueva Esperanza Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre
Nueva Esperanza is a private residential rehabilitation centre in Membley Estate, Ruiru, just off Thika Road near Nairobi. It focuses on alcohol and drug dependency through structured clinical programmes that address both addiction and underlying mental health conditions.
Fully accredited by NACADA and the Ministry of Health via KMPDC, it keeps client numbers small for individualised care. Programmes include medically supervised detox, psychotherapy, relapse prevention and holistic methods such as CBT. Nueva is one of the top-rated SHA-accredited rehabilitation centres in Kenya.
6. Lifebridge Hospital
Lifebridge Hospital is a popular SHA-approved rehab in Kenya on the Northern Bypass in the Roysambu/Mirema area of Nairobi. Being hospital-based, it emphasises the pharmacological side of treatment and offers a wide range of interventions for substance use disorders and mental health conditions.
Client feedback suggests customer service lags behind some peers, but it remains a strong option, especially for clients with mental health conditions, and is owned by a renowned Kenyan psychiatrist.
7. Blessed Talbot Treatment Center
Blessed Talbot Treatment Center (Blessed Talbot Medical Centre) is a psychiatric and rehabilitation facility in Ndumberi, Kiambu County, near Nairobi. Established in 2005, it operates as a Level 4B specialist psychiatric facility offering inpatient and outpatient care for substance use and mental health conditions.
As a SHA-accredited treatment centre it accepts partial or full SHA payments, and as a Level 4B psychiatric hospital it attracts higher SHA premiums under the mental wellness package.
8. Mariakani Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Mariakani Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is a SHA-accredited rehab in South C, Nairobi, operating as a Level 3 facility serving Nairobi and surrounding areas. It offers a wide range of interventions for substance use and other mental health conditions.
Mariakani accepts both the ordinary and civil servants schemes, with POMSF members enjoying full cover for detox and rehabilitation. It has relatively few online reviews, so do your own due diligence before enrolling.
9. JOMEC Rehabilitation Center
JOMEC is a seasoned rehabilitation centre in Kenya linked to former NACADA chairman John Mututho, registered as a nursing home under a Level 3A KMPDC licence. Like most Level 3A nursing homes it accepts partial or full SHA payments.
It is reasonably priced – a 3-month programme runs about KES 150,000–250,000 – but has few Google reviews and some negative feedback about amenities and communication, so visit and verify before committing.
10. Nairobi Place Rehab Center
Nairobi Place, off Mokoyeti Road in Karen, is among the rehabs in Kenya that accept payments through SHA. It suits clients who want a shorter stay, with a 6-week inpatient programme, a 2-week intensive outpatient phase and up to 3 months of aftercare.
Confirm the centre’s current SHA status and the split between SHA cover and out-of-pocket top-up before admission.
Does SHA cover rehab in Kenya?
Yes. SHA covers drug and alcohol rehabilitation at accredited facilities, but the ordinary scheme does not cover the whole cost. Some centres charge up to KES 500,000 for a 90-day programme, so most ordinary members top up the difference. SHA also covers general mental health treatment under its mental wellness package.
How much does SHA cover for drug & alcohol rehab?
The amount SHA covers depends on your membership category. The table below summarises the two main schemes.
| Scheme | What SHA covers | What you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary SHA members | Up to KES 67,200 per year for a 3-month rehab programme | The balance (e.g. ~KES 170,000 on a KES 230,000 programme), often in instalments |
| Civil servants (POMSF / Mwalimu) | Full rehab cost may be covered – inpatient rehab, detox, counselling, psychiatric care, medication, follow-up | Often nothing, subject to eligibility and facility |
Ordinary SHA members rehab package
For standard-scheme members, cover is limited to KES 67,200 per year for a 3-month programme. Top centres such as Primrose charge about KES 230,000 for three months, so you would pay roughly KES 170,000 in cash, usually in instalments. Always request an official quotation before treatment begins.
Civil servants SHA rehab package (POMSF)
Civil servants get enhanced benefits through the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF). Depending on eligibility and facility, the full cost of rehabilitation may be covered, including:
- Inpatient rehabilitation programmes
- Medical detoxification and monitoring
- Psychological counselling and therapy
- Psychiatric evaluation and treatment
- Medication management
- Recovery support and follow-up care
SHA mental health services package
Beyond rehab, SHA’s mental wellness package covers conditions such as major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, PTSD, personality disorders, mood disorders and panic disorders. The daily rebate is KES 2,240 for Level 3A centres and KES 3,360 for Level 4B centres, which mainly covers bed charges – so ordinary-scheme patients may need to top up.
Which rehabs in Kenya are SHA approved?
Not every rehab qualifies for SHA accreditation. To be eligible, a centre must first be registered and licensed as a hospital or nursing home by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC). Many centres operate as behaviour-change facilities without a KMPDC licence and therefore cannot be SHA accredited. Always confirm a centre’s SHA status before starting treatment.
How to find SHA-approved rehab centres in Kenya
Start with the official directory of accredited facilities on the SHA website, which lists hospitals and healthcare providers approved under the national scheme. Being listed doesn’t guarantee quality, so do your due diligence:
- Check the centre’s treatment programmes
- Confirm the qualifications of medical staff
- Read patient reviews and testimonials
- Assess the success rate and recovery-support services
How to register with SHA for rehab and mental health services
You must be a registered, paid-up SHA member to access the rehab or mental wellness benefits. Unlike NHIF – which had a 6-month waiting period – SHA benefits activate immediately after registration once premiums are paid. To register, dial *147# and follow the prompts.
Your monthly contribution is means-tested by the questions you answer, ranging from about KES 300 for needy cases up to KES 2,500 for higher earners. Contributions are calculated monthly but must be paid annually.
How to choose the best SHA rehab in Kenya
Rehabs vary widely, so do your due diligence before enrolling yourself or a loved one. Consider:
- Whether the facility is SHA accredited (and KMPDC licensed)
- The total cost of the programme and your out-of-pocket top-up
- Availability of qualified medical professionals
- Aftercare and relapse-prevention programmes
- The type of addiction treatment offered
Verdict: best SHA-accredited rehabs in Kenya
SHA provides real financial support for drug and alcohol rehabilitation, but only accredited hospitals and nursing homes qualify, and the ordinary scheme covers just KES 67,200 for a 3-month programme – the rest is paid in cash. Most centres charge KES 150,000–300,000 for three months. Civil servants enjoy comprehensive cover under POMSF and the Mwalimu cover. Always verify accreditation and coverage limits, and request a written quotation, before treatment begins.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find SHA-covered rehab centres in Kenya?
Use the official SHA website directory of accredited facilities. Not every listed centre is high quality, so do thorough due diligence to find the best rehab for your needs.
Which rehabs in Kenya are SHA approved?
Only centres registered and licensed by KMPDC as a hospital or nursing home qualify. Examples include Primrose, Chiromo Bustani, The Retreat, Zawena, Nueva Esperanza, Lifebridge, Blessed Talbot, Mariakani and JOMEC.
How much does SHA pay for alcohol rehabilitation?
It depends on your scheme. Ordinary members are covered up to KES 67,200 for a 3-month programme; civil servants may have the full cost covered under POMSF.
How soon can I use SHA for rehab after registration?
Immediately after registration – provided you have paid one year of premiums in advance.