State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards

22/08/2026

The Principal Secretary, State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, participated in the Ministerial Dialogue on “Vision 2035: Shaping the Future of East Africa’s Health Economy” during the 13th East Africa Healthcare Federation Conference and International Exhibition in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The dialogue brought together health leaders from Ethiopia, Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania and Kenya to discuss strategies for strengthening regional collaboration and advancing an integrated East African health economy.

PS Muthoni shared Kenya’s experience in implementing transformative health-financing reforms aimed at expanding access to affordable, equitable and quality healthcare for all.

She reaffirmed the Government of Kenya’s commitment to deepening regional cooperation, facilitating cross-border investment and promoting the mutual recognition of health professionals’ licences as key measures towards building a resilient and integrated regional health economy.

21/08/2026

21/08/2026

JIM Retreat Reflects on One Year of Citizen Engagement

The Jamii Imara Mashinani (JIM) Caucus today reflected on its first year of grassroots citizen engagement, reaffirming its commitment to bringing Government closer to the people and increasing awareness of Government programmes and services.

Speaking in Kajiado County, JIM Chairperson and Principal Secretary, State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, said JIM has undertaken 22 engagements across 14 counties, providing platforms for citizens to interact with senior Government officials and give feedback on service delivery.

PS Muthoni highlighted key Government achievements, including over 32 million Kenyans registered with SHA, more than KSh5.5 billion disbursed to 122,000 young entrepreneurs, and over 6,000 kilometres of roads under construction.

She said JIM’s two-way engagement model enables Government to explain its programmes while listening to citizens. Moving forward, JIM will focus on increasing awareness, uptake and adoption of Government initiatives and services.

PS Muthoni was joined by Kenya National Highways Authority Chairperson Winnie Ngumi, JIM Convener Peter Mucendu, KICC CEO Uncle Sam, NEMA Chairperson Emilio Mugo, Kenya Biovax Chairperson Dr Charles Githinji and Kenya Water Institute Chairperson Patrick Musili Mbangula, among other officials.

19/08/2026

The Kenya Health Summit 2026 – Day 2 is underway at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi, bringing together health leaders and stakeholders to reflect on reforms, devolution and progress in delivering quality healthcare for every Kenyan.
Watch the live broadcast:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1JXBwDFc2u/

18/08/2026

H.E. President William Samoei Ruto this evening led a media town hall session with members of the public on the sidelines of the ongoing Kenya Health Summit 2026, providing an opportunity to address key issues under the Government’s Taifa Care agenda and progress towards Universal Health Coverage.

The session, held under the Summit theme, “Reforms Delivered; Healthcare as a Right,” examined critical pillars of UHC, including healthcare financing under the Social Health Authority (SHA), health products and technologies, human resources for health, primary healthcare and community health services.

On healthcare financing, the President highlighted progress in the registration of Kenyans under SHA, with more than 31 million people now registered, as the Government continues to advance access to affordable and equitable healthcare.

The session also focused on the availability of health products and technologies in public health facilities. The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has improved its facility order refill rate to over 90 per cent, up from about 40 per cent in 2022, strengthening the availability of essential medical supplies across the country.

On human resources for health, the President highlighted the deployment of more than 6,000 interns and the commitment of over KSh19 billion towards internship remuneration over the last two financial years. He also noted progress in honouring agreements with doctors, helping to address perennial disruptions caused by industrial action in the health sector.

The President further highlighted the National Equipment Support Programme, which has equipped health facilities, including those in far-flung areas, to undertake specialised procedures and provide services closer to communities.

Primary Healthcare and Community Health Services also featured prominently, with more than 107,000 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) deployed across all 47 counties. The CHPs are supporting households through basic health screenings, health education, prevention and early identification of health conditions, while linking Kenyans to appropriate care within the health system.

The town hall provided an opportunity for the public and the media to engage directly with the President on the implementation of health sector reforms and the Government’s efforts to ensure that quality healthcare is accessible to every Kenyan as a right.

18/08/2026

President William Ruto today met Community Health Promoters (CHPs) from across the country during the ongoing Kenya Health Summit in Nairobi, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to strengthening community-based healthcare.

The President announced the Government’s plan to enrol CHPs in SHA effective September 2026, alongside the replenishment of their health kits and provision of new phones to strengthen service delivery and enable real-time reporting from communities to the policy level through the Electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS).

With more than 9 million households reached and 750,000 people screened and linked to care, CHPs remain the frontline soldiers in shifting Kenya from reactive to preventive and promotive healthcare.

18/08/2026

https://www.facebook.com/muthonikenya/videos/4149068845235578/?app=fbl

WE’RE LIVE AT KICC!

The PHC Policy Dialogue on Strengthening and Scaling Up Primary Health Care in Kenya is happening now at Breakout Room A2 during the Kenya Health Summit 2026.

The conversation is centred on strengthening Primary Health Care as the foundation for Universal Health Coverage and healthier communities.

📍 KICC, Breakout Room A2
🎥 Follow the conversation live.

18/08/2026

PS Mary Muthoni Muriuki CBS set to deliver a keynote address at the PHC Policy Dialogue on Strengthening and Scaling Up Primary Health Care in Kenya, at the ongoing Kenya Health Summit 2026, KICC Breakout Room A2.

The dialogue will focus on strengthening PHC as the foundation for Universal Health Coverage and healthier communities.

18/08/2026

President William Ruto has opened the Kenya Health Summit 2026, bringing together key health sector stakeholders under the theme “Reforms Delivered, Health as a Right.”

The two-day Summit is focusing on accelerating Universal Health Coverage through health financing, Primary Health Care and community health, human resources, health products and technologies, digital health, health security and specialised services.

The Summit will culminate in a Summit Communiqué and Joint UHC Acceleration Plan, with concrete commitments from Government, counties, partners and the private sector to advance health as a right for every Kenyan.