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The Ministry said the proposed policy is designed to “ensure an adequate supply, optimal skill mix, equitable distribution, and effective performance of Healthcare Professionals” in order to advance the realization of Universal Health Coverage in Kenya and improve overall health outcomes.
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.
Duale, speaking in Garissa on Wednesday had criticised Gachagua’s recent remarks on development in the region and called for a public discussion.
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.
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.
.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.
According to the Health CS, calling for a referendum on matters currently under parliamentary scrutiny could undermine lawful processes and create unnecessary uncertainty.
The CS reiterated that the Constitution itself provides a lawful path for addressing procedural uncertainties, and the Supreme Court has already outlined how that path should be followed.
In a press statement dated December 17, 2025, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the government remains focused on delivering quality Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in line with Article 43 of the Constitution, which guarantees every Kenyan the right to accessible and quality healthcare.
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.
Speaking on Wednesday, during his maiden official visit to the regulatory agency, Duale said the government would not tolerate weak enforcement or regulatory lapses that endanger the lives of Kenyans.
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.