Ruto graces second day of Health Summit at KICC

On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, First Lady Rachel Ruto joined the second day of the Health Summit taking place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi. The summit theme for the day is "Building Excellence in MNH, Specialised and Referral Services," with discussions expected to concentrate on maternal and newborn health, specialized medical services, and referral systems.

The Health Summit follows the first day which centered on the Social Health Authority (SHA), hospital funding, equipment, and the availability of medical services. Health sector stakeholders convened at KICC on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, to discuss the advancements and challenges in healthcare delivery and outline steps to improve Kenya's healthcare system.

The summit offers a national forum to evaluate progress under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda and accelerate Kenya's pursuit of Universal Health Coverage. Key discussions revolve around major health sector reforms, such as the rollout of SHA, which has registered over 32 million Kenyans, and the accreditation of more than 10,000 healthcare facilities.

Recent achievements include the implementation of digital health transformation, improved efficiency at KEMSA, with a fill rate exceeding 90%, expanded specialized services through the National Equipment Service Programme (NESP), and the enrollment of more than 31 million Kenyans into SHA. The government has also prioritized digital transformation in healthcare, including the distribution of over 42,000 devices to facilitate electronic medical records and real-time claims processing.

Other focal points include enhancing primary healthcare, the role of 107,800 Community Health Promoters, maternal and newborn health initiatives, and reforms aimed at bolstering the health workforce, such as increasing nurse and midwife recruitment. On the inaugural day, President Ruto made the opening remarks, toured the exhibition and innovation marketplace, and engaged in high-level plenary sessions on Kenya's health sector status.

These were followed by sessions on health financing, primary healthcare systems, and human resources in the sector. The second day will include additional discussions culminating in a Presidential Town Hall, where citizens and stakeholders will share their experiences, concerns, and proposals to enhance healthcare delivery. The summit gathers government officials, healthcare professionals, development partners, and stakeholders to consolidate gains made in the health sector and address remaining gaps in healthcare access, affordability, and quality.

The summit's outcomes are anticipated to include implementation roadmaps, partnership commitments, and renewed efforts to guarantee Kenyans access to quality and affordable healthcare.