Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, on Wednesday, January 29, told Members of Parliament that Kenya is making steady progress in fixing its healthcare system as the country works towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Speaking during the 2026 Legislative Retreat for Members of the National Assembly, Duale said the government has already taken major steps to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for ordinary Kenyans.
The meeting, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, gave lawmakers a chance to hear directly from the Health ministry on how reforms are unfolding and what laws are needed to support them.
Duale said more than 29 million Kenyans have registered under the Social Health Authority, with Sh93.4 billion already spent on health services since the programme began. He noted that the government is now focusing on strengthening primary healthcare, with services fully funded under the Green Label Service Charter in facilities across all 47 counties.
On technology, the CS said the ministry has connected over 10,000 health facilities to national digital health systems. More than 30,000 digital devices have also been distributed, allowing health workers even in remote areas to send reports in real time and improve accountability.
At the community level, Duale said 107,000 Community Health Promoters continue to serve as the backbone of healthcare delivery. He added that UHC staff have been earning Salaries and Remuneration Commission-approved pay since September 2025, easing long-standing concerns around job security.
Duale also acknowledged past challenges at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority but said reforms are beginning to bear fruit. He told MPs that the national supply fill rate now stands at 91 per cent, while Sh6.18 billion has been committed to equipping county hospitals with modern diagnostic and treatment machines.
Maternal and newborn care remains a key concern, with the government targeting 26 high-risk counties through the Every Woman, Every Newborn Everywhere programme and the Rapid Results Initiative. The aim, he said, is to cut maternal deaths by improving emergency care and blood services.
The CS further said Kenya is stepping up its preparedness for disease outbreaks by expanding laboratory services and emergency response centres under the Kenya National Public Health Institute.
Duale called on Parliament to treat health as a national priority, urging closer coordination between ministries and better cooperation between national and county governments. He also said the Ministry is moving quickly to pass the Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety Bill, 2025, and to review existing health laws to remove overlaps and gaps.
He was accompanied to the retreat by Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth, Social Health Authority CEO Mercy Mwangangi, and other senior officials.
