Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale says the government's new emergency medical services system is aimed at ending delays that have long cost lives, with patients often being turned away from hospitals over lack of deposits or transport.
Addressing the launch of the national emergency response system on Wednesday, Duale said the country was closing a major gap in healthcare by ensuring emergency treatment becomes a reality rather than a constitutional promise.
"The many questions that used to come to Parliament were that a Kenyan would be picked by an ambulance, taken to a hospital and asked for a deposit. In the end, that patient dies inside the ambulance, or even there is no ambulance to pick him," he said.
He said the newly operational emergency system would help guarantee access to emergency care regardless of where a patient lives or their ability to pay at the point of treatment.
"Today, you are making history by making sure that emergency care, as provided for in the Constitution, is going to be actualized," Duale said.
The Cabinet Secretary said the reforms are particularly significant for residents of northern and other underserved regions, where long distances to hospitals continue to delay access to life-saving treatment.
"I come from Garissa... when this ministry speaks about ambulances, I am not reading from a policy paper. I am describing the reality of my own people," he said.
Duale said the launch also marks the completion of the government's broader health financing reforms, with all four funds established under the Social Health Insurance framework now fully operational.
He added that the Social Health Authority has registered 32.2 million members, while health facilities across the country are recording improved access to diagnostic equipment, theatre services and essential medical supplies.
According to the CS, cooperation between the national government and counties has also helped resolve longstanding industrial disputes involving healthcare workers, clear internship challenges and facilitate the recruitment of 5,000 nurses and midwives.
He further said ongoing assessments indicate Kenya may be recording improvements in maternal health outcomes, with maternal mortality expected to fall below previous estimates once updated figures are released.
Duale said the emergency dispatch centre is fully operational and ready for public use, adding that the Digital Health Agency, county governments and healthcare providers have completed the necessary preparations for nationwide implementation.
He described the launch as a defining moment in Kenya's health sector, saying it would ensure every Kenyan can access emergency medical care without unnecessary delays or financial barriers.