Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has challenged journalists to move beyond government statistics and establish whether ongoing health reforms are making a real difference to patients, healthcare workers and families across the country.
Duale said the media should take a closer look at the implementation of the Taifa Care Model by engaging health officials, visiting facilities and speaking directly to those using and providing healthcare services.
“I therefore called on the media to go beyond reporting numbers, interrogate the reforms, engage technical teams, visit health facilities and speak to healthcare workers and patients to establish how these changes are being experienced on the ground,” Duale said.
The CS spoke on Tuesday during a media town hall held ahead of the 2026 Kenya Health Summit, set for August 18 and 19 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
The summit is expected to bring together national and county governments, development partners, healthcare institutions, private sector players, health professionals and members of the public to assess the country's progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Duale said the meeting will also provide an opportunity to examine challenges emerging in the health sector and determine the next steps in Kenya's efforts to transform healthcare, with the Taifa Care Model forming a key part of the reforms.
He said the government's goal was to ensure healthcare is treated as a right and made accessible to every Kenyan.
According to Duale, more than 32 million people have so far been registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA), while close to 7.9 million claims have been processed, resulting in payments of more than Sh164 billion.
He said the figures point to progress in widening access to medical services and providing greater financial protection to Kenyans.
The government has also been seeking to bring healthcare services closer to communities through increased investment in primary healthcare.
Duale said more than 107,000 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) are currently being supported through 277 Primary Care Networks as part of efforts to improve healthcare at the community level.
He added that the health transformation programme includes investment in medicines, local production of pharmaceutical products, medical equipment and health infrastructure.
Emergency medical services have also been expanded, with Duale pointing to the launch of the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre and the toll-free 922 emergency line as part of efforts to improve response to emergencies.
He said stronger disease surveillance and public health emergency systems were also helping improve the country's ability to prepare for and respond to health threats.
Despite the progress reported through the figures, Duale said the true test of the reforms would be whether they improve the daily experiences of Kenyans seeking healthcare.
“Ultimately, the success of these reforms will be measured not only by statistics, but by their impact on people's lives,” he said.
He said the reforms should be assessed by looking at whether mothers are able to access safe maternity services, whether patients can receive treatment without being pushed into financial hardship and whether families can obtain quality healthcare closer to where they live.
Duale also called for an independent and informed media to play its part in monitoring the reforms and ensuring that the health system remains focused on the needs of the people.
“A well-informed and independent media remains essential to keeping the reforms people-centred, accountable and responsive,” he said.