Kenyans in need of urgent medical attention will now be able to access ambulance services through a single toll-free number after the government rolled out the Social Health Authority's (SHA) national Emergency Medical Service (EMS), a programme expected to improve emergency response and eliminate delays in accessing critical care.
President William Ruto on Wednesday unveiled the 922 emergency hotline in Nairobi, describing it as a major milestone in the country's healthcare reforms.
The new system brings ambulance dispatch, patient referrals and emergency coordination under one National Ambulance Dispatch Centre to ensure patients receive timely treatment.
President William Ruto during the launch of the SHA 922 Emergency Service in Nairobi County on August 5, 2026.
Unlike previous emergency response arrangements that often relied on individual counties or private providers, the new digital platform will identify the closest available ambulance, keep dispatchers in constant communication with callers and direct patients to hospitals equipped to manage their specific medical conditions.
"For too long, the fate of a Kenyan facing a medical emergency has depended on the money in their pocket, where they happen to live and who they happen to know. Today, we change that permanently," Ruto said.
The President said anyone requiring emergency assistance can call 922 free of charge from any mobile network, even without airtime, allowing patients to seek help immediately during medical emergencies.
He noted that the aim is not only to transport patients quickly but also to ensure they are taken to facilities with the capacity to provide the care they need.
"The objective is not simply to take the patient to the closest hospital, but to take them to the facility best suited to save their life," he said.
To remove financial barriers that have often delayed treatment, Ruto announced that ambulance transport and the first 24 hours of emergency care will be paid for through SHA's Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund. He said the benefit will apply to every Kenyan, including those who have not registered with SHA or whose contributions are not up to date.
"There will be no negotiations, no guarantees and no relatives running around looking for money. In an emergency, the first duty is to save life," the President said.
SHA CEO Mercy Mwangangi and President William Ruto during the launch of the SHA 922 Emergency Service in Nairobi County on August 5, 2026.
PHOTO/PCS
He directed all SHA-contracted hospitals to admit and treat emergency patients immediately, warning against withholding treatment while checking insurance status or demanding payment before care is provided.
The launch comes as the government continues implementing wider health sector reforms under the Universal Health Coverage programme. According to Ruto, 32.2 million people have registered under SHA, with eight million already receiving services through the scheme.
He said preventive healthcare has also been strengthened through the deployment of 107,000 community health promoters across the country, while Sh23.3 billion has been released to contracted health facilities through the Primary Healthcare Fund to support service delivery.
The President added that specialised treatment financed under SHA, including cancer care and dialysis, has enabled more patients to access services that were previously beyond the reach of many families.
While acknowledging that the transition to the new health financing model has faced resistance in court and in the political arena, Ruto said the government remained focused on building a health system that guarantees access to quality care when it is needed most.
He called on healthcare providers, county governments and agencies implementing the programme to ensure the new emergency response network operates efficiently, saying its success will be measured by how quickly it reaches patients and saves lives across the country.