Health Updates

NURSES AND MIDWIVES ANNOUNCE NATIONWIDE STRIKE FROM JULY 29

Kenya's healthcare system could face further disruption after the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) announced a nationwide strike beginning Wednesday, July 29, 2026, across all 47 county governments.

If the industrial action proceeds, nurses and midwives will join the ongoing nationwide strikes by UHC staff and Clinical Officers, escalating pressure on public health facilities and potentially affecting the delivery of healthcare services across the country.

The union is calling on the Council of Governors (CoG) to address the issues raised before the strike date to avert further disruption in the health sector.

The planned strike comes as thousands of Kenyans continue to rely on public hospitals, with concerns growing over access to essential healthcare services if a resolution is not reached in time.

🧠 DID YOU KNOW?

Your brain is the control center for pain, but surprisingly, it doesn't actually feel pain itself. That's because brain tissue has no pain receptors, making it possible for some patients to remain awake and even talk to surgeons during certain brain operations.

💬 Were you aware of this fascinating fact?

GOVERNMENT TO INSURE ALL COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTERS UNDER SHA

The National Government has announced that all 107,000 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) across Kenya will be enrolled under the Social Health Authority (SHA) medical insurance scheme as part of efforts to strengthen primary healthcare and accelerate Universal Health Coverage.

Speaking during a meeting with nearly 8,000 Community Health Promoters from Nairobi County at State House, President William Ruto said the national government will contribute KSh390 million towards the insurance cover, with county governments expected to match the amount.

The President also announced that CHPs will receive new smartphones and medical kits to enhance service delivery and digital reporting at the community level.

Since the programme was launched in October 2023, CHPs have played a critical role in household health promotion, disease prevention, early detection of illnesses, referrals and community health education.

In Nairobi alone, Community Health Promoters have registered more than 810,000 households on the electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS), conducted millions of screenings for hypertension and diabetes, and referred tens of thousands of patients for further medical care.

The Government says the continued investment in Community Health Promoters is aimed at strengthening preventive healthcare, improving access to essential services and advancing the country's Universal Health Coverage agenda.

DIGITAL HEALTH BOOST AS KENYA BEGINS DEVELOPMENT OF NEXT-GENERATION eCHIS PLATFORM

Kenya has launched the development of the Electronic Community Health Information System Version 3 (eCHIS V3), a next-generation digital platform aimed at strengthening primary healthcare and accelerating the delivery of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under Taifa Care.

According to the Ministry of Health, the upgraded system will provide a secure, scalable and interoperable digital infrastructure to support real-time decision-making, enhance disease surveillance, improve cybersecurity and make it easier for Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and frontline health workers to deliver services.

The Ministry says Kenya has built one of Africa's strongest community health systems by investing in more than 100,000 Community Health Promoters through monthly stipends, medical kits, smartphones and digital training.

Currently, the eCHIS platform has registered over 30.6 million Kenyans across 9.36 million households and supports the delivery of essential health services to more than 17 million people.

Health officials are now calling on stakeholders to support the development of eCHIS V3, saying the upgraded platform will strengthen preventive healthcare, empower frontline workers and improve health outcomes for millions of Kenyans.

COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS RAISES CONCERNS OVER LONG-TERM UHC STAFF FUNDING

The Council of Governors (CoG) has raised fresh concerns over the long-term financing of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff, warning that counties cannot absorb the workers into permanent employment without a sustainable funding framework.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Council of Governors Annual General Meeting, CoG Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi said the KSh 8.9 billion allocated for UHC workers was intended to cover only one financial year.

He noted that while counties support the transition of UHC staff, the question of how salaries will be financed in subsequent years must first be resolved in accordance with the law.

The remarks come as discussions continue between the national government, county governments and other stakeholders on the future of thousands of UHC workers, with counties insisting that a predictable and legally anchored funding mechanism is essential before the workforce can be fully absorbed.

The issue remains one of the key priorities in ongoing efforts to strengthen Kenya's health workforce and ensure uninterrupted delivery of healthcare services across the country.

🇰🇪 KENYA RECEIVES 5-TONNE EBOLA EMERGENCY SUPPLIES AS PREPAREDNESS INTENSIFIES

Kenya has received a 5-tonne humanitarian consignment of Ebola preparedness supplies from the Government of India, boosting the country's capacity to prevent, detect and respond to any potential Ebola outbreak.

The shipment, received by Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale, includes personal protective equipment (PPE), rapid diagnostic kits, infrared thermometers and other emergency response commodities that will replenish the national emergency stockpile and support the country's 22 designated Ebola isolation units.

Although Kenya has not recorded any confirmed Ebola case, the Ministry of Health says surveillance has been intensified across more than 20 points of entry, with over 270,000 travellers screened, rapid response teams deployed, mobile laboratories activated and diagnostic capacity strengthened to enhance national preparedness.

The Ministry said the support further strengthens Kenya's public health emergency response systems and ongoing efforts to protect frontline healthcare workers while reinforcing the country's readiness to respond to future disease outbreaks.

Health officials also noted that the donation reflects continued cooperation between Kenya and India in strengthening health security and emergency preparedness.

CLINICAL OFFICERS' STRIKE FURTHER DISRUPTS HEALTHCARE SERVICES ACROSS KENYA

Healthcare services in several counties are expected to face additional disruption following the commencement of a nationwide strike by Clinical Officers, further compounding the challenges already caused by the ongoing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff industrial action.

In Embu County, the Department of Health has advised residents to expect longer waiting times, reduced outpatient services and the postponement of some non-emergency services as the industrial action continues.

County health officials have assured the public that emergency and other critical life-saving services remain operational, with health teams working to sustain essential care despite the staffing challenges.

The County Government says it is engaging the Ministry of Health, the Council of Governors, the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) and other stakeholders in efforts to find a lasting solution and restore normal healthcare services.

Residents are encouraged to seek care at the nearest available health facility, particularly for emergencies, while following official updates from their respective county health departments as the situation evolves.

CS DUALE INSPECTS READINESS OF KSH 6 BILLION EAST AFRICA KIDNEY CENTRE

Kenya's flagship East Africa Centre of Excellence in Nephrology and Urology is moving closer to the start of operations following an inspection by Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale to assess the facility's operational readiness.

The Government-funded KSh 6 billion centre is expected to become one of the region's leading referral institutions for kidney and urological care, serving patients from Kenya and across the East African Community.

During the inspection, the Cabinet Secretary toured the centre's state-of-the-art infrastructure, including modular operating theatres, Intensive Care and High Dependency Units, advanced diagnostic laboratories, MRI and radiology services, a biorepository, an integrated command centre, and a renal replacement therapy unit equipped with 30 dialysis machines, including dedicated paediatric dialysis services.

The Ministry of Health said it is finalizing recruitment, operational systems, budgets and essential medical supplies ahead of the facility's phased opening following Cabinet approval establishing the institution.

Beyond clinical services, the centre has already contributed to specialist training by supporting 444 healthcare professionals and facilitating 375 kidney transplants through Kenyatta National Hospital. Once operational, it is expected to expand access to specialized renal care, reduce referrals abroad and strengthen Kenya's position as a regional centre for advanced healthcare.

SPECIALIST OUTREACH HEADS TO ISHIARA AS MADAKTARI MASHINANI CONTINUES ACROSS EMBU

Residents of Ishiara and neighbouring communities are set to benefit from this edition of the Madaktari Mashinani specialist outreach programme, with clinics scheduled for Tuesday, 21st July 2026 at Ishiara Level 4 Hospital.

The initiative will bring specialist medical services from Embu Level 5 Hospital closer to the community, allowing patients to access expert care without travelling long distances.

The outreach will offer consultations and treatment across a wide range of specialties, including diabetes and hypertension management, maternal and reproductive health, ENT services, dental care, mental health, cervical cancer screening, rehabilitation, surgical reviews, eye care and other specialised medical services.

Residents requiring specialist care are encouraged to visit Ishiara Level 4 Hospital for review and booking ahead of the clinic. A SHA registration desk will also be available to assist those who are not yet registered, enabling eligible patients to benefit from covered consultations and laboratory services.

The outreach programme is part of ongoing efforts to expand access to specialist healthcare services by bringing them closer to communities across Embu County.