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Duale highlighted a worrying trend of pharmacies rapidly mushrooming near major referral and county hospitals, a development that could put patients at risk and raise questions about conflicts of interest.
The Ministry of Health has warned that urgent interventions are needed from both national and county governments to safeguard households and ease the growing pressure on hospitals.
Despite the progress, national malaria trends remain complex. The World Health Organization reported a 27 per cent rise in total cases in 2025, from 3.29 million in 2024 to 4.18 million, even as targeted interventions helped reduce incidence in other areas. Malaria deaths fell from 1,733 in 2023 to 1,211 in 2024, reflecting improvements in both treatment and prevention.
The first counties set to receive the injections are Mombasa, Kilifi, Machakos, Nairobi, Kajiado, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Kakamega, Busia, Siaya, Kisumu, Migori, Homa Bay, Kisii and Kiambu.
CS Duale said both countries, as signatories to the International Health Regulations (2005) and partners within the Africa CDC framework, will establish formal mechanisms to address public health threats affecting both sides of the border.
From October 2024 to December 2025, Kenya recorded 583,298 normal deliveries and 326,684 Caesarean sections, requiring about Sh2,046,130,500 for Level II and III government and faith-based facilities.
The President outlined Kenya’s approach, which focuses on both improving health services and ensuring families can afford care. Central to this effort is the newly established Social Health Authority, which provides pre-paid coverage for maternal services.
SHA is now operational in 10,277 facilities across the country. These include 5,672 county-run facilities, 533 managed by faith-based organisations, and 4,072 private providers.
Health researcher Issa Ahmed Issa defends his controversial ugali remarks, urging Kenyans to prioritise metabolic health over calorie counting and warning about refined starches, seed oils and highly processed breakfasts.
The Health CS stressed the urgency of signing the National Equipment Service Program addendums, which will release funds to maintain medical equipment across 126 facilities nationwide, valued at Sh6.18 billion.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners’ Hospital Checklist for Categorisation of Health Institutions requires that Level 4, 5, and 6 hospitals operate ICU and HDU units with at least six, 12, and 24 functional ICU beds respectively.
KMPDC Chief Executive Officer Dr. David G. Kariuki called on affected facilities to forward certified copies of all relevant ownership, governance and licensing documents for review.
SHA runs three separate funds: the Primary Healthcare Fund (PHC), Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF), each serving different health needs.
Counties will need Sh47.8 billion to retain 41,170 PEPFAR-supported staff, mostly in high HIV-prevalence areas. Without adequate funding, health facilities risk losing critical staff and services, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women, adolescents, and young women.
Oral cholera vaccines are recommended for anyone aged one year and above, with a single dose providing protection for at least six months and two doses extending protection up to three years.
The ministry added that preventive measures will also cover proper waste disposal, the distribution of mosquito nets and antimalarial drugs, provision of testing kits, and enhanced surveillance to detect outbreaks early.
The Council noted that nutrition and dietetics are regulated health professions and warned that incorrect information in this area can place the public at risk.
Head and neck cancers account for the largest proportion of patients currently undergoing treatment at the referral Hospital.
At the grassroots, public health relies on Community Health Promoters (CHPs) who link households to healthcare services, provide sanitation education, and support disease prevention. Each CHP is expected to serve roughly 100 households.
Olaly said the union is seeking engagement with the Ministry of Health to establish a clear training curriculum and regulatory framework for Community Health Promoters.
In Kenya, about three million people aged 15 to 65 use tobacco products, which are responsible for nearly 9,000 deaths each year, according to the Ministry of Health.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Thursday, Olaly painted a grim picture of a system overwhelmed by preventable diseases, misaligned priorities, and inadequate structures.
Ashira explained that public health functions, from policy to execution, follow a chain that starts with the Ministry of Health, through the Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, and down to the Director General and the State Department of Public Health and Professional Standards.
Ashira emphasized that public health, often described as preventative medicine, is critical for protecting populations, preventing disease, and ensuring longer, healthier lives.
According to the Principal Secretary, cancer remains a major global health challenge, with Kenya experiencing a rising burden due to increased life expectancy and the shift from communicable to non-communicable diseases.
The World Health Organisation has confirmed the outbreak, describing Nipah Virus as a serious disease that requires global monitoring. This has led health authorities worldwide to increase surveillance and preparedness.
The agency is seeking nearly Sh129 billion to respond to 36 emergencies globally, warning that shrinking humanitarian funding is leaving the most vulnerable without life-saving medical services.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns that chronic underfunding and earmarked aid threaten global health progress, even as the agency reports 2025 gains against polio, HIV, cervical cancer and other diseases.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Nairobi branch says all doctors under the county government have been instructed to report back to work at 8 a.m. on Monday, February 2.
About 6,000 Kenyan women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, making it the second most common cancer after breast cancer among women