President William Ruto has directed all eligible ambulance operators in the country to be integrated into the national emergency response system by December 30 as the government moves to create a unified platform for handling medical emergencies.
The directive requires the Social Health Authority (SHA), the Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors to work together in bringing on board public, county, faith-based and private ambulance providers into the SHA emergency network.
"I therefore direct SHA, working with the Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors, to complete the onboarding of every eligible public, county, faith-based and private ambulance operator by December 30 this year," Ruto said.
The President said expanding the ambulance network will ensure emergency medical services are available to all Kenyans, regardless of their location, and eliminate gaps that have affected access to urgent care.
Speaking during the launch of the SHA 922 Emergency Medical Service and the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre in Nairobi, Ruto said the system must serve communities across the country, including those living in remote areas.
"This service must work for the pastoralist in Turkana, the farmer in Nyeri, the fisherman in Homa Bay, the hustler in Nairobi and families travelling across the country. It must be dependable, responsive and accountable," he said.
Ruto said the national emergency service is intended to provide a coordinated response by connecting patients, ambulance providers and health facilities through one system.
The service will operate through the toll-free 922 emergency number, which will be available across all mobile networks without requiring airtime. Calls will be received at the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre, where trained personnel will coordinate the nearest available ambulance and identify the most suitable health facility for a patient based on their condition.
He said the system will help ensure patients are taken to facilities with the ability to handle their medical needs rather than simply being transported to the nearest hospital.
The President also directed that emergency patients should not face delays because of inability to pay or because their SHA registration details cannot be confirmed immediately.
"In an emergency, the first question must never be whether a patient can pay. The first duty is to save life," he said.
Under the programme, ambulance evacuation services and the first 24 hours of emergency treatment will be paid for through the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund using approved tariffs. Ruto said the support will cover all patients, including those who are not registered under SHA.
He added that the dispatch centre will coordinate ambulances operated by county governments, faith-based organisations, the Kenya Red Cross Society, St John Ambulance Kenya and private providers, while allowing each organisation to retain ownership of its vehicles.
"Coordination is not centralisation. It is the difference between separate systems working together to save lives," Ruto said.
The President said 1,243 ambulance and emergency service providers have already been contracted under the programme, but more operators will need to join to achieve full national coverage.
He urged county governments to bring additional ambulance providers into the system, saying increased participation will improve response times and strengthen emergency transport services across the country.
Ruto said the ambulance reforms are part of wider health sector changes introduced since 2023, including the rollout of SHA, expansion of primary healthcare services and increased focus on preventive care.
He said more than 32.2 million Kenyans have registered under SHA, with over eight million people already accessing treatment through the scheme. He added that the Primary Healthcare Fund has released Sh23.3 billion to contracted health facilities, while more than 107,000 community health promoters have been deployed to support healthcare delivery at household level.
The President said technology will remain central to the emergency response system by linking emergency calls, ambulance dispatch, patient admission, treatment and payment processes through one digital platform.
"Today's launch may not resolve every weakness in our emergency healthcare system, but it establishes the foundation of a coordinated national service and places upon us the responsibility to improve it continuously," he said.