Kenya has expanded health coverage to more than 32.3 million people as the Government advances reforms aimed at protecting households from high medical costs and ensuring access to healthcare is based on need rather than ability to pay.

Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale highlighted the progress during a high-level ministerial dialogue at the 76th session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for Africa.

The dialogue brought together African health ministers to examine sustainable approaches to financing healthcare and accelerating Universal Health Coverage across the continent.

Hon. Duale said Kenya’s transition from the National Hospital Insurance Fund to the Social Health Authority is replacing a fragmented and employment-based system with a more inclusive and sustainable model.

Previously, health insurance covered only about a quarter of the population, leaving many farmers, traders, casual workers and vulnerable households to pay for treatment directly. Out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure reached approximately USD 1.2 billion annually, exposing families to financial hardship whenever serious illness occurred.

The reforms have registered more than 32.3 million people, equivalent to approximately 55 per cent of Kenya’s population. Primary healthcare is now funded by the National Government, with more than USD 210 million committed to support services at community and primary-care levels.

The financing framework has supported more than 20 million outpatient visits by 15 million people, over 1.2 million safe deliveries and approximately 500,000 surgical procedures.

Through the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, more than 50,000 cancer patients and nearly 21,000 people requiring dialysis have also received support.

Digitisation is strengthening transparency and efficiency across the health system. More than 95 per cent of health facilities—6,424 out of 6,727—have been digitised, while SHA has automated registration, pre-authorisation and claims processing.

Hon. Duale called for sustained domestic health financing across Africa, backed by responsive technology, strong political leadership and mutually beneficial international partnerships.