NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has launched the SHA 922 Lifeline and National Ambulance Dispatch Centre, describing it as a major milestone in Kenya’s drive toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and a practical realization of the constitutional right to emergency medical treatment.
Speaking during the launch in Nairobi on Wednesday, Ruto said the initiative transforms the constitutional guarantee under Article 43(2) into a nationwide emergency response service accessible to every Kenyan, regardless of their financial status or Social Health Authority (SHA) registration.
“Today, we begin to change that. We are turning a constitutional guarantee into a service that every Kenyan can reach through the launch of the SHA 922 Lifeline and the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre,” the President said.
He noted that, for years, access to emergency healthcare had largely depended on where a person lived, how much money they had and who they knew, describing the situation as inconsistent with the Constitution.
Single National Emergency Number
Under the new system, 922 becomes Kenya’s single national emergency medical number, available free of charge across all mobile networks, including for callers without airtime.
According to the President, trained emergency dispatchers will answer calls, establish a patient’s location, assess the emergency, provide immediate guidance, and coordinate the nearest available ambulance.
Using the national digital health system, dispatchers will also identify the most appropriate health facility based on a patient’s condition rather than simply referring them to the nearest hospital.
“The objective is not simply to take the patient to the closest hospital, but to take them to the facility best suited to save life,” Ruto said.
Government to Cover Emergency Care
The President announced that ambulance evacuation and the first 24 hours of emergency treatment will be financed through the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund at approved government tariffs.
He emphasized that the protection applies to all patients, including those who are not registered with SHA or have not made contributions.
“No deposit. No guarantee. No negotiation. No relative sent running for money while a patient’s life hangs in the balance,” he said.
“In an emergency, the first question must never be whether a patient can pay. The first duty is to save life.”
Ruto directed all healthcare facilities contracted by SHA not to deny, delay or transfer emergency patients because of payment issues, incomplete documentation or delays in confirming insurance coverage.
Progress on Taifa Care
The President outlined milestones achieved under the government’s health reforms since 2023, saying 32.2 million Kenyans have registered with SHA while eight million people have already received treatment.
He said Sh178.5 billion has been paid to hospitals, health centres and dispensaries through the health financing system.
Ruto added that 107,000 Community Health Promoters have been deployed nationwide to strengthen primary healthcare, while the Primary Healthcare Fund has disbursed Sh23.3 billion to more than 10,000 contracted health facilities.
He also revealed that over 50,000 cancer patients have received treatment under the national health programme, while nearly 21,000 patients are currently receiving dialysis.
The Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, he added, has been allocated Sh8 billion by the government to support critical healthcare services.
“The money will move through the system. It will not move through the patient’s pocket,” the President said.
Nationwide Ambulance Integration
President Ruto acknowledged that emergency medical services are provided by county governments, faith-based organisations, the Kenya Red Cross Society, St John Ambulance and private operators, saying the dispatch centre is designed to coordinate rather than replace existing providers.
He said the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre will improve ambulance deployment, coordination and payment while maintaining ownership by existing operators.
“Coordination is not centralisation; it is the difference between 47 separate systems and one Republic working together to save lives,” he said.
The President disclosed that 1,243 ambulance and emergency service providers have already been contracted by SHA but directed the Ministry of Health, the Social Health Authority and the Council of Governors to complete the onboarding of all eligible public, county, faith-based and private ambulance providers by December 31, 2026.
He said the service must be dependable and accessible to every Kenyan, whether in urban centres or remote parts of the country.
“It must be dependable, responsive, and accountable. Every call must be answered. Every ambulance must be traceable. Every payment must be transparent. Every failure must be investigated and corrected,” he said.
Ruto described the launch of the 922 Lifeline as another step towards building public services that fulfil the aspirations of the 2010 Constitution.
“One country. One emergency number. One clear duty: To save every life we can,” he said.
