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Duale announced on Wednesday, January 8, 2026, a sweeping policy shift that will see Kenya stop renewing licences for most foreign doctors, saying the move is necessary to protect jobs for thousands of unemployed Kenyan medical professionals.
Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly high-risk strains 16 and 18. Dr. Mohammed said these strains account for “about 99% of the most common cervical cancers and around 70% of all cervical cancer cases overall.”
WHO has updated its HIV guidelines, reaffirming dolutegravir, backing long-acting injectables, revising protease inhibitor choices and TB prevention, aiming to improve outcomes and advance efforts to end AIDS.
Duale said the measure aims to ensure that public funds spent on training Kenyan doctors, from university education to specialist programmes, yield benefits for local practitioners first.
In a detailed statement on Wednesday, Duale said the CBA currently ready for signing applies only to about 150 clinical officers employed directly by the Ministry of Health, a small fraction of the country’s clinical workforce.
The agency warned that misleading claims about cures pose a real risk to people living with HIV, particularly if they lead patients to abandon or delay proven treatment.
.Duale said while the Ministry of Health respects faith and spiritual practices, matters concerning health and life must be guided by science, ethics, and evidence-based medicine.
Kenya’s medical regulator has condemned unverified faith healing claims for HIV, cancer and other serious illnesses in Nakuru, warning patients not to abandon treatment as investigations and possible sanctions proceed.
The contracting, anchored in the Social Health Insurance (SHI) Act of 2023, targets highly specialized interventions for beneficiaries of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF), with applications open for 14 days.
The group cited ongoing strikes, delays in Social Health Authority (SHA) approvals, limited specialised services in Level 5 and Level 6 hospitals, and the exploitation of patients through unsafe practices as major challenges facing the health sector.
Industrial action by healthcare workers emerges as a major concern in the report, with repeated strikes disrupting essential services in several parts of the country.
Inspections remain a key enforcement tool. The ministry is conducting comprehensive checks on all licensed wholesalers in Nairobi, while routine inspections of pharmacies and distributors continue nationwide.
The move is designed to help healthcare providers maintain uninterrupted services as the festive season approaches. It is part of SHA’s ongoing efforts to improve claim accuracy and streamline facility contract management under the Social Health Insurance system.
Sponsored by Suba North MP and Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo, the Bill was read for the first time in the Senate on Thursday, December 4, 2025, before being referred to the Senate Committee on Health for further scrutiny.
According to Novo Nordisk, clinical trials of the pill involving around 1,300 participants showed an average weight loss of 16.6%. About a third of those in the study lost at least 20% of their body weight. The company aims to launch the pill in the United States in early January 2026.
Currently, only six national teaching and referral hospitals serve the country’s population of over 55 million, creating unequal access to quality healthcare. Lawmakers stressed the urgent need for more hospitals in every region to reduce the physical and financial burden on patients.
The Ministry noted several key factors that facilitate the spread of infections, including close contact in crowded spaces such as parties, religious gatherings, and busy markets, as well as poor ventilation in indoor venues.
With only two days left in the 21-day strike notice issued on December 2 to the national and county governments, Wachira said the union had given extra time beyond the legal requirement to avoid industrial action.
Chairperson Abdi Mohamed said the appointments will be instrumental in optimising the benefits administration and accelerating the processing of claims, reinforcing the Authority’s commitment to transparency and financial protection for all Kenyans.
KMPDU highlighted the challenges of Kenya’s public health system, including heavy patient loads, long working hours, emergency responsibilities, and overlapping duty periods. The union defended dual practice as a necessary coping mechanism due to limited staffing, delayed salaries, intense workloads, and insufficient incentives for doctors to focus solely on public service.
The union says the policy, which would block claims approved by doctors between 8 pm and 5 pm does not reflect the realities of public hospitals and could disrupt service delivery.
Consultant psychologist John Wills Njoroge says 3.5 million Kenyan men have faced sexual abuse, yet few report it, highlighting stigma, under‑reporting and long‑term trauma despite growing legal and support mechanisms.
The Board further warned that supermarkets, cosmetic shops, household goods stores, online sellers and other general retail outlets are not allowed to stock or sell prescription-only medicines. It said any outlet found engaging in this practice would face enforcement action for breaching existing laws.
Dr. Atellah said the Governor agreed to promote all consultants who were due to move from Job Group M to Q, with the promotions scheduled to take effect by December 17, 2025. He confirmed that by December 16, 2025, promotion letters for most of the affected doctors had already been prepared and were available for collection at Garissa Level 5 Hospital.
Duale said some doctors employed in public facilities are deliberately redirecting patients to private hospitals where they also practice, while neglecting their duties in government institutions that pay their salaries.
The persistence of HIV/AIDS in the region is linked to long-standing social and economic challenges. High levels of poverty, entrenched gender inequality, and the ongoing sex-for-fish trade along Lake Victoria place many women and girls at risk of infection. Limited healthcare access and unequal household and community power structures further drive the spread of the disease, keeping infection rates high across multiple sub-counties.
The child-friendly approach helps reduce fear and anxiety, improves cooperation during medical care, and supports faster emotional recovery.
Registration and Compliance at the county coordination level will be handled by Geoffrey Mwangi Thiaka and Anab Sharrif Mohamed, while Minnie Wanja Gitau and Faith Sitoi Tonkei will take charge of the broader Registration and Compliance designation.
The CS noted that only general data may be shared and that personal details remain protected under Kenyan law. Duale said the pact is rooted in the country’s own regulations.
Speaking in an interview on Radio Generation on Friday, KUCO Secretary General George Gibore said the standoff is not about unwilling workers but about a government that has consistently gone back on its word.