Hon. Aden Duale, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health, presided over the national celebrations of World Kidney Day at Kenyatta National Hospital broader Universal Health Coverage agenda.
Speaking at the event themed “Kidney Health for All: Caring for People, Protecting the Planet,” Duale highlighted the urgent need for early screening and preventive measures to tackle chronic kidney disease (CKD), which affects nearly 3.1 million Kenyans and is largely driven by diabetes and hypertension.
“Early screening and preventive care remain our strongest tools in reducing the burden of kidney disease and other non-communicable diseases in the country,” CS Duale said.
He noted that non-communicable diseases now account for 43% of deaths in Kenya, making proactive wellness a national priority.
Guided by the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the Ministry is prioritizing community-based preventive care, leveraging Community Health Promoters to detect high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar early at the grassroots level.
Under the Social Health Authority (SHA), over KSh104 billion in claims have been processed to cover dialysis, nephrectomy, and kidney transplants, including public-private partnerships with hospitals such as Aga Khan University Hospital.
A National Transplant Registry is also being established to ensure safe and ethical organ donation.
The Ministry is expanding specialist training through the East Africa Centre of Excellence in Urology and Nephrology, rolling out modern renal units across counties, and preparing the Kenya National Guidelines for Kidney Diseases 2026 to standardize care with integrated digital systems.
CS Duale urged Kenyans to adopt healthier lifestyles, including regular check-ups, physical activity, hydration, and reduced salt intake, to prevent kidney disease and other non-communicable illnesses.
The event was attended by Director General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth, KNH team lead by CEO Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, Kenya Renal Association Chaiperson Dr. Jonathan Wala, Ministry’s Director of the Kenya Blood Transfusion and Transplant Services (KBTTS), Dr. Martin Sirengo alongside other dignitaries
