NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to universal health coverage (UHC), saying the government will continue working to ensure “every life matters” as the country strengthens emergency and maternal healthcare systems.
Speaking during the handover of emergency medical equipment donated by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Ruto said the partnership has been instrumental in managing outbreaks and improving recovery efforts nationwide.
WHO donated 14 advanced life support ambulances, 223 oxygen cylinders, and a range of essential medical supplies. The ambulances will be deployed to the seven national referral hospitals, the National Emergency Response Centre, and select counties, including Elgeyo-Marakwet, Marsabit, Samburu, Siaya, and Tana River, to boost maternal and reproductive health services.
Ruto said the equipment will directly support Kenya’s UHC agenda, which prioritises safe pregnancies, healthy newborns, and responsive health systems. “The value of these resources will be measured in lives saved, babies supported, and communities strengthened,” he said, noting that maternal and newborn mortality rates remain unacceptably high.
To address this, the Ministry of Health has been directed to adopt real-time reporting of all maternal and newborn cases, alongside clinical audits and immediate corrective action at both county and facility levels.
The President highlighted the Every Woman, Every Newborn, Everywhere initiative, which equips frontline teams, secures essential medical commodities, and enforces respectful, high-quality care nationwide.
He further urged the WHO Africa Regional Office to scale up support for regional health security and fast-track operationalisation of the Regional Emergencies and Logistics Hub in Kenya. The Ministry of Health, he said, is clearing regulatory and logistical hurdles as a priority.
Kenya’s UHC rollout is anchored on six pillars, including service delivery through 107,000 Community Health Promoters, a strengthened health workforce, the Integrated Health Management Information System, and the Social Health Authority (SHA), which has registered over 27 million Kenyans.
Reliable medical supplies through KEMSA and transformative health laws passed in 2023 also form key components.
“Universal health coverage is now a reality for more Kenyans than ever,” Ruto said, thanking WHO Regional Director Mohamed Janabi for continued support.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the donated ambulances will significantly reduce maternal and child deaths. “It is immoral and unconstitutional for a mother to die while giving life,” he said, pledging accountability and full implementation of UHC at all levels.
Marsabit Governor Mohammud noted that the vehicles and equipment will complement county investments in emergency and reproductive health.
In addition to the ambulances, WHO supplied 205 medical oxygen cylinders, 6.5 million tablets for treating schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted infections in 15 counties, and a package of 952 reproductive and maternal health items, including equipment, commodities, and training modules.
The government says the strengthened partnership will help safeguard lives, improve health outcomes, and advance the country’s long-term goal of accessible, equitable healthcare for all.
