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Inspections remain a key enforcement tool. The ministry is conducting comprehensive checks on all licensed wholesalers in Nairobi, while routine inspections of pharmacies and distributors continue nationwide.
KMPDU highlighted the challenges of Kenya’s public health system, including heavy patient loads, long working hours, emergency responsibilities, and overlapping duty periods. The union defended dual practice as a necessary coping mechanism due to limited staffing, delayed salaries, intense workloads, and insufficient incentives for doctors to focus solely on public service.
The CS noted that only general data may be shared and that personal details remain protected under Kenyan law. Duale said the pact is rooted in the country’s own regulations.
KUCO Secretary-General George Gibore said all key state offices had already cleared the agreement except the Health Ministry, adding that clinicians will not continue working without a signed deal.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale explained that the ministry’s strategy includes launching a national Reproductive-Age Mortality Survey to capture accurate data on the causes and scale of deaths among women of reproductive age. In addition, the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) system will be fully digitized and rigorously applied, while stricter clinical standards will be enforced in all health facilities.
According to the Health CS, attendance in key hospitals, including Thika Level 5 and Kiambu County Referral Hospital, dropped sharply during the industrial action. The number of patients seeking care fell from 80,452 between June and August 2024 to 54,282 in the same period of 2025, leaving more than 26,000 people without medical attention.
The association explained that the Health Ministry’s pending liabilities cover several subsidy and maternal health programmes, including Sh2.12 billion for Linda Mama, Sh1.42 billion under the programme for orphans and vulnerable children, Sh289 million for older persons and persons with severe disabilities, and Sh4 billion for indigent households under the universal health coverage roll-out.
The report shows strong quality improvement structures in higher-tier hospitals, with 92 per cent of Level 5 facilities having quality teams. This dropped to 85 per cent in Level 4 and 63 per cent in Level 3 centres. Urban facilities scored 76 per cent, ahead of rural ones at 62 per cent. Over the past two years, 20,044 health workers have received training on improving care delivery, with Level 5 hospitals contributing 25 per cent of those trained.
The report identifies postpartum haemorrhage as the leading cause of maternal deaths, with Tana River, Garissa, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Machakos, Homa Bay, Siaya, Wajir, Kilifi, Murang’a, Makueni, Migori, and Turkana counties having the highest fatalities. Kenya’s maternal mortality ratio remains at 355 per 100,000 live births, while neonatal mortality is 21 per 1,000 live births.
CS Duale reiterated the government’s pledge to guarantee equitable access to reproductive health supplies for all Kenyans without discrimination or financial barriers.
The Health Cabinet Secretary appeared before the committee to respond to issues raised in a report on challenges faced by Kenyans in accessing services under the Social Health Authority (SHA).However, he declined to answer some questions, arguing that he had not been given sufficient time to review the documents.
Speaking during a high-level consultative meeting with private healthcare providers and senior Social Health Authority (SHA) officials, Duale said claims above Sh10 million will be verified by an independent committee before payments are made to protect public funds.