Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has reaffirmed the government's commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
He said reforms under President William Ruto’s administration are transforming Kenya’s health sector after years of neglect and mismanagement.
In a statement on Sunday, Duale said the government is dismantling what he described as a system that had long served as a “cash cow for a few,” leaving millions of Kenyans without access to essential medical services.
He noted that significant progress is being made through a series of structural and policy changes aimed at ensuring equitable healthcare for all citizens.
“Under the leadership of H.E. President William Ruto, our Ministry remains firmly committed to delivering Universal Health Coverage to every Kenyan,” Duale said.
“For years, the health sector was reduced to a cash cow for a few, while millions of ordinary citizens struggled to access even the most basic services.”
Duale highlighted the establishment of the Social Health Authority (SHA) as one of the flagship reforms intended to overhaul the financing and management of healthcare.
The authority replaces the former National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) model, which the government has repeatedly criticised for inefficiency and corruption.
He also pointed to the rollout of Taifa Care, a new social protection programme designed to ensure all Kenyans, including low-income earners, have access to essential medical services without facing financial hardship.
The revival of Linda Jamii and other targeted interventions, he said, demonstrates the administration’s efforts to widen the safety net for vulnerable populations.
“These reforms aim to provide quality, affordable and accessible healthcare for all, regardless of income, geography or social status,” Duale said.
The Health CS added that the government is working to streamline service delivery across counties, strengthen primary healthcare, and enhance accountability within the sector.
He said the ongoing reforms are part of a broader national agenda to ensure that every Kenyan can receive timely and reliable healthcare services.
Duale insisted that the transformation underway will restore public confidence in the health system and ensure that healthcare is treated as a basic human right rather than a privilege for the few.
The Ministry of Health is expected to roll out additional UHC initiatives in the coming months as part of the government’s commitment to fully implement the reforms.
