Government Engages Media Ahead of Inaugural Kenya Health Summit 2026 at KICC
“Tell the stories behind the reforms. Visit facilities, talk to health workers and patients, and help Kenyans understand what has changed and what still needs to be done,” the Ministry urged.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale. Photo: Ministry of Health.
By Judith Waka
The Ministry of Health has stepped up engagement with the media as part of preparations for the inaugural Kenya Health Summit 2026, slated for 18th to 19th August at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
The engagement, led by Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale, was aimed at reviewing Kenya’s health transformation journey and setting the agenda for the summit, which will be held under the theme, “Reforms Delivered, Health as a Right.”
According to the Ministry, the summit will be the first of its kind and will bring together a broad spectrum of stakeholders including the National and County Governments, development partners, healthcare institutions, the private sector, health professionals and ordinary citizens to assess the progress made so far and shape the next phase towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
At the heart of the reforms is the Taifa Care Model, through which the Government says it is working to make quality healthcare accessible to every Kenyan, regardless of income, location or circumstances.
The Ministry revealed that more than 31.2 million Kenyans have so far registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA), which has processed close to 7.9 million claims and paid approximately KSh164 billion to health facilities across the country. Registered Kenyans can also access services at Level 2, 3 and 4 facilities through the Primary Healthcare Fund without paying at the point of care, a move aimed at reducing financial barriers to healthcare.
To bring services closer to the people, the Government has deployed more than 107,000 Community Health Promoters, supported through 277 Primary Care Networks, who are delivering preventive, promotive and basic healthcare services at the household level.
The Ministry added that it is also investing heavily in local pharmaceutical manufacturing, essential medicines, medical equipment and health infrastructure to reduce over-reliance on imports and ensure a steady supply of critical health commodities.
On public health preparedness, the Ministry said emergency operations centres, disease surveillance systems and field epidemiology capacity are being strengthened. The establishment of the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre and the toll-free 922 emergency line has also created a coordinated platform for accessing emergency medical services, regardless of location or SHA registration status.
The Ministry emphasized that the success of the ongoing reforms must not be measured by statistics alone, but by their impact on people’s lives — including mothers receiving safe maternity care, patients accessing treatment without financial distress, and families obtaining quality healthcare closer to home.
Journalists were called upon to go beyond the numbers by engaging experts, visiting health facilities and listening to healthcare workers, patients and communities to establish what is working, where gaps remain and what requires improvement.
“Tell the stories behind the reforms. Visit facilities, talk to health workers and patients, and help Kenyans understand what has changed and what still needs to be done,” the Ministry urged.
Present during the media engagement were Principal Secretaries Dr. Ouma Oluga (Medical Services) and Ms. Mary Muthoni (Public Health and Professional Standards); Director-General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth; Council of Governors Chief Executive Officer Ms. Mary Mwiti; Kenya Editors Guild Chief Executive Officer Ms. Linda Bach; development partners; media representatives; CEOs of health-sector State Corporations; and senior Ministry officials.
The Kenya Health Summit 2026 is expected to chart the next chapter of Kenya’s journey to Universal Health Coverage.
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