From Reform to Results: Kenya’s Journey Towards a World-Class Health System
Nairobi, Kenya - - Kenya’s progress in strengthening its health system was highlighted as H.E. President Dr William Ruto presided over the official opening of the Kenya Health Summit 2026 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
The two-day Summit, held under the theme “Reforms Delivered, Health as a Right,” brings together national and county governments, health professionals, development partners, the private sector and other stakeholders to review progress and define the next phase of Kenya’s journey towards Universal Health Coverage.
Led by Cabinet Secretary for Health Hon. Aden Duale, the Ministry of Health showcased how reforms under the Fifth Administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda are improving health financing, digital health, specialised care, health products and technologies, maternal and newborn health, and the health workforce.
Through the KSh9.6 billion National Equipment Service Programme, 862 specialised medical equipment units have been deployed across 251 health facilities in 44 counties. The investment is strengthening the capacity of county hospitals to provide specialised services closer to communities, reducing unnecessary referrals, travel distances and costs for patients.
The Digital Health Agency has distributed more than 42,000 digital devices across the country against a target of 74,000. The devices support the Taifa Care platform, electronic medical records, biometric verification and real-time processing of Social Health Authority claims.
Within two years, 32.3 million Kenyans have been registered with the Social Health Authority, while more than 10,000 health facilities have been accredited to provide services under the new framework. These reforms are laying the foundation for a health financing model in which access to care is increasingly determined by need rather than a person’s ability to pay at the point of illness.
Following the Government’s KSh10 billion recapitalisation of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority, the national health commodities supply chain has become more reliable. Order turnaround times have improved, while the order fill rate has risen from 35 per cent to 95 per cent, enabling health facilities to receive essential medicines and medical commodities more consistently.
Through the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere programme, championed by President Ruto, the Government is intensifying efforts to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths. The planned recruitment and deployment of 5,000 additional nurses and midwives under the Maternal and Newborn Health Acceleration Programme will strengthen frontline services and expand access to quality maternity and newborn care.
Investment in the health workforce extends beyond maternal and newborn care. Over the past four years, 24,573 healthcare interns have been deployed across all 47 counties, strengthening service delivery while building a pipeline of skilled health professionals.
A further 7,414 Universal Health Coverage staff transitioned from contractual to permanent and pensionable terms effective , supported by an allocation of KSh8.94 billion. The move is expected to strengthen workforce stability and retention.
Together, these reforms demonstrate a deliberate shift from isolated interventions towards an integrated, data-driven, better-financed and adequately equipped health system that responds to the needs of communities.
The Summit was attended by Deputy President H.E. Prof. Kithure Kindiki; Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Hon. Musalia Mudavadi; Speaker of the National Assembly Rt. Hon. Moses Wetang’ula; United Nations Resident Coordinator Garry Conille; Attorney General Dorcas Agik; and Cabinet Secretaries Ali Hassan Joho, Alice Wahome, Julius Ogamba, Hanna Cheptumo, Dr Alfred Mutua, Opiyo Wandayi, Salim Mvurya and Eng. Eric Mugaa.
Governors were led by Council of Governors Chairperson and Wajir Governor H.E. Ahmed Abdullahi; Council of Governors Health Committee Chairperson and Mombasa Governor H.E. Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir; and Nairobi Governor H.E. Johnson Sakaja.
Also present were Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga; Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Ms Mary Muthoni; Director-General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth; National Assembly Health Committee Chairperson Dr James Nyikal; Senate Health Committee Chairperson Senator Jackson Mandago; members of the diplomatic corps; development partners; senior officials from both levels of government; and representatives of the private sector.