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The second phase of Daktari Smart will build on a programme that has already reached more than 27,000 children in Samburu, Homa Bay, Baringo, Narok and Lamu since it was launched in 2021.
Addressing the Bomet County Assembly on Wednesday, the President also credited Bomet for taking an early lead in implementing the Community Health Promoters programme, which he said had strengthened the link between households and health services.
State Department for Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr Ouma Oluga says the government has allocated Sh19 billion to primary healthcare, with greater emphasis being placed on preventing diseases and detecting health risks before they develop into serious and expensive conditions
Speaking during the plenary session of the 76th WHO Regional Committee for Africa on Tuesday, Duale said African countries must move beyond policy declarations and translate their health commitments into concrete investments, measurable results and stronger national systems
The achievements in registration, DP noted, are being consolidated through increased recruitment of doctors, nurses, lab technologists among other healthcare practitioners to meet the demands in various hospitals and health centres across the country.
He said Nairobi had 7,820 community health promoters serving about 780,000 households, making the network a critical link between residents and formal health facilities
The President announced the directive on Tuesday during an engagement forum with village elders at State House, saying the government would fully finance the health insurance cover for the country's grassroots administrators and their immediate families
The issue is contained in the Auditor-General's report for the financial year ending June 30, 2025, which found that the State Department for Health acquired the devices despite the procurement not appearing in its annual procurement plan.
Ruto said the cost of the insurance scheme would be shared equally between the two levels of government, describing the arrangement as a partnership that would protect the health workers who play a critical role in delivering healthcare at the community level.
To back his claims, Ruto compared the performance of SHA with that of NHIF, saying the new authority is releasing far more money to health facilities than its predecessor. According to the President, NHIF used to disburse about Sh5.6 billion every three months, while SHA is now paying approximately Sh12 billion every month.
Addressing criticism that followed Gaucho's appointment, Sakaja said community representatives play an important role in helping bridge the gap between medical staff and ordinary wananchi.
The new platform is expected to modernise Kenya's community health information systems by providing secure, scalable and interoperable digital infrastructure capable of supporting real-time decision-making while improving service delivery for frontline health workers
President Ruto warned that some hospitals were still unlawfully charging patients despite government funding arrangements already covering the services.
The Ministry of Health says improved mobility enables Community Health Promoters to cover larger areas, conduct more household visits, and facilitate referrals more efficiently, contributing to better healthcare outcomes
The Ministry of Health rolled out the devices in late 2023, targeting about 100,000 Community Health Promoters to support data entry, patient registration, and reporting through the Electronic Community Health Information System.
Duale noted that the upcoming budget prioritises reforms aimed at improving service delivery, including expansion of UHC, increased use of digital systems in health services, and strengthening domestic manufacturing of health commodities to reduce dependence on imports.
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.
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.
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.