Health PS Calls for Efficiency and Accountability in Budget Planning
Naivasha, Kenya – – Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, has emphasised the need to optimise health policies and resources to ensure value for money, urging a critical examination of institutional performance and stronger collaboration to meet Kenya’s obligations in delivering Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Dr. Oluga outlined notable achievements in the past financial year, including the rollout of HIV, immunisation, blood transfusion and family planning programmes, delivery of specialised services such as kidney transplants, heart surgeries and minimally invasive procedures, expansion of medical research, investment in health infrastructure, and the establishment of a comprehensive integrated digital health information system. He said these milestones demonstrate that with discipline and aligned priorities, the sector can deliver tangible results for Kenyans.
Speaking during the preparation of the Financial Year 2026/27 and Medium-Term Budget, the PS noted that the process must align with the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), national ceilings and the Government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). He stressed that the sector faces constrained fiscal space and global economic uncertainty, making it imperative to rationalise priorities and use available resources strategically.
Dr. Oluga, however, expressed concern over sustained underfunding, pointing to a 9.5 per cent drop in allocations, from KSh 113.5 billion in 2022/23 to KSh 102.7 billion in 2024/25, even as requirements more than doubled to KSh 371.8 billion. He said allocations against requests have fallen from 60 per cent to 28 per cent, contributing to shortages in medicines, salaries and food supplies, as well as a rise in pending bills.
Acknowledging these challenges, he urged health sector officials to prepare realistic, costed and well-justified proposals that ensure efficiency, accountability and equity, with a strong focus on UHC. “The budget is not just numbers on paper—it is a reflection of our collective commitment to better health outcomes for Kenyans,” Dr. Oluga said.