NAKURU- In a significant stride toward realizing Kenya’s digital transformation agenda in healthcare, Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale today handed over 1,140 digital devices to Nakuru County.
The devices will support the Health Information Exchange (HIE), a national digital platform designed to give Kenyans ownership, portability, and control over their health data.
Speaking during the handover event in Nakuru, CS Duale hailed the ongoing rollout of the Taifa Care programme and the successful training and deployment of 3,306 Community Health Promoters (CHPs).
These CHPs, now fully integrated into the Ministry of Health’s service delivery model, are seen as key to advancing people-centred healthcare at the grassroots.
“These digital tools will empower our health workers and citizens alike,” said Duale. “We are shifting to a system where healthcare is not only accessible but also accountable. Every Kenyan must feel ownership over their health journey.”
The Health CS emphasized the Ministry’s zero-tolerance approach to malpractice in the digital era, warning against unqualified practitioners and unethical behaviors such as the sharing of preauthorization codes.
He noted that the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) would intensify regulatory oversight to ensure high standards of care are maintained nationwide.
“Digital health is not just about technology—it’s about transparency and trust,” Duale told healthcare workers. “We will use this system to track qualifications, enforce standards, and safeguard patients from malpractice.”
As part of the government’s strategy to optimize resource use, the CS reiterated the enforcement of the bed capacity access rule, which links Social Health Authority (SHA) reimbursements to verified facility capacities. He urged healthcare providers to update their facility data with KMPDC to avoid any disruption in services.
Nakuru County, one of the top performers in SHA adoption, was lauded for registering over 840,000 residents. Hon. Duale praised the county’s healthcare workers for their commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
He also emphasized the need to onboard all health workers onto the SHA platform to sustain momentum in the transformation effort.
“UHC will not be realized from Nairobi alone—it will be built in counties like Nakuru, through the dedication of our frontline health teams,” he said.
The event marked a major milestone in the Ministry’s goal to digitize health services across all 47 counties, as Kenya moves closer to a more efficient, inclusive, and accountable healthcare system.
During a public engagement in Nakuru County, Health CS Aden Duale also announced plans to upgrade the Nakuru Regional Cancer Centre into a major referral facility serving 24 counties, a move aimed at advancing access to cancer care in underserved regions under the Taifa Care model.
The upgrade, part of the National Equipment Services Programme (NESP), will provide cutting-edge medical equipment to key health facilities across the county. This includes CT scans in Molo and Bahati, dialysis and mammography at Annex, and advanced labs, X-rays, ultrasounds, and theatres in sub-county hospitals.
Duale also championed registration under the Social Health Authority (SHA), highlighting its advantages over the defunct NHIF and its central role in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
He further reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strict pharmaceutical regulation, making it clear that only licensed pharmacies and professionals will be allowed to dispense medication.
