By Onyimbi Nelson
Enshrined by Article 43 of the Kenyan Constitution, hailed as one of the most progressive in Africa, is the guarantee of the highest attainable standard of health for every Kenyan citizen, including emergency and reproductive health. This is further supported by Articles 27 and 28, which promote non-discrimination and the right to human dignity. However, despite these constitutional provisions, reality paints a grim picture of the country’s health sector.
Recent incidents highlight the dire state of healthcare in Kenya. An accident involving students from western Kenya saw several of them piled together on a hospital floor, some with severe injuries, in the absence of adequate emergency medical care. In Kisumu, UHC workers, the backbone of primary healthcare, have been vocal about the prolonged delay of their stipends, blaming county authorities who, in turn, shift responsibility to the national government for slashing and withholding funds. Meanwhile, public hospitals have begun rejecting patients covered under the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme, citing a lack of remuneration from the government. Instead, these hospitals prioritize private insurance holders, leaving a vast majority of Kenyans at the mercy of an already overwhelmed and underfunded healthcare system in the backdrop of damning revelations on where the SHA funds are directed to.
These instances are symptomatic of a health sector in distress, one that requires urgent intervention to restore its ability to provide quality care to all citizens, especially after the exit of USAID and donor support. However, instead of focusing on much-needed health sector reforms, the political class continues to demonstrate an alarming disconnect from the struggles of ordinary Kenyans.
Some argue that the country lacks the resources to invest adequately in healthcare. Yet, the extravagance of government spending tells a different story. The recent request by the State House for billions to renovate an already renovated residence is difficult to justify when hospitals lack essential medicines, equipment, and personnel. Similarly, the KES 550 million spent on a political campaign for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship, funded by taxpayers through higher fuel prices and increased taxation, is a stark contrast to the government’s claims of financial constraints. These misplaced priorities undermine the very foundation of public service delivery.
Rebuilding the healthcare system requires more than just financial investment. It demands political will and accountability. The government must prioritize the health sector by ensuring the timely disbursement of funds to county governments for healthcare provision, investing in emergency response systems to prevent tragic cases of delayed medical intervention, paying healthcare workers on time, and improving their working conditions to boost service delivery, strongly addressing systemic corruption that drains public resources meant for healthcare infrastructure and services, and revamping the SHA scheme to ensure that public insurance is not sidelined in favor of private players.
As the 2025/26 fiscal year approaches, citizens must participate in public forums actively and demand that their leaders prioritize healthcare. Public participation in budget-making processes allows Kenyans to hold their government accountable and push for inclusive, equitable, and transparent healthcare policies. By doing so, the people can influence policy decisions that will strengthen the healthcare system, ensuring that every Kenyan, regardless of economic status, has access to the medical services they deserve.
Healthcare is a constitutional right. The government must align its priorities with the urgent needs of its citizens, and Kenyans must demand better from their leaders. Eventually, a healthy nation becomes a prosperous nation.
Onyimbi is a health policy advocate at NAYA Kenya
