CS Duale Leads Presentation of 2026/2027 Health Budget Estimates Before Parliamentary Committee
Nairobi, Kenya - - Cabinet Secretary for Health Hon. Aden Duale led the Ministry of Health in presenting the 2026/2027 Financial Year Estimates for the State Department for Medical Services before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health at Bunge Towers, Nairobi.
The session, chaired by Seme MP Dr. James Nyikal, focused on ongoing reforms aimed at accelerating implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through targeted investments in healthcare systems strengthening, workforce support, digital transformation, and improved service delivery.
The Ministry outlined the broad mandate of the State Department for Medical Services, including policy direction, regulatory coordination, institutional capacity strengthening, management of national referral services, and provision of technical support to counties in healthcare delivery.
Among the key priorities presented to the Committee were expansion of local manufacturing of medical products and technologies, modernization of healthcare systems through digitization, and strengthening accountability mechanisms to improve efficiency and access to quality healthcare services across the country.
Hon. Duale emphasized the critical role played by Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in linking households to the healthcare system and strengthening primary healthcare interventions at the community level.
The Cabinet Secretary highlighted the urgent need to replace and upgrade CHP kits to enhance grassroots service delivery and reinforce preventive and promotive healthcare services within communities.
The Ministry also announced plans to transition 107,000 Community Health Promoters into the Social Health Authority (SHA) comprehensive medical scheme through a collaborative framework between the national and county governments aimed at improving their welfare and long-term institutional support.
Hon. Duale further appealed for increased budgetary allocations towards several high-impact yet underfunded programmes, including operationalisation of the East Africa Centre for Excellence in Urology and Nephrology, strengthening the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Services, scaling up the Primary Healthcare Fund to sustain outpatient services at Levels 2 and 3 facilities, and increased support for the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund.
Additional financing was also sought for national referral hospitals to address rising operational and human resource demands.
On the status of UHC healthcare workers, the Ministry confirmed extension of their engagement contracts up to to facilitate a smooth and structured transition process as county governments prepare for their absorption on permanent and pensionable terms.
The Committee was further briefed on ongoing reforms focused on improving efficiency in health financing, strengthening healthcare supply chain systems, enhancing digital health infrastructure, and ensuring uninterrupted availability of essential medicines and commodities across all levels of care.
The engagement also underscored the importance of safeguarding health financing as a strategic investment in Kenya’s economic resilience and human capital development, with immunization financing remaining protected to sustain gains made in child health and prevent resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases.
The Ministry delegation included Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga, Director-General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth, alongside senior Ministry directors, technical leads, and chief executive officers.