More Kenyans enjoy access to universal healthcare: Ruto

President William Ruto on the first day of the on-going inaugural Kenya Health Summit 2026 said in the last three years, government has continued to solve health issues thanks to reforms which have been undertaken.

Majority of Kenya’s population now embrace Universal Health Coverage (UHC), including the Social Health Authority (SHA), with Dr Ruto indicating that 32.3 million people are already benefiting.

“I want you to see it (SHAH) contribution in the context of what you are going to get… And we have said, for those who are not able to pay, we will pay for them as the government,” Ruto said on Tuesday, August 18 during the official opening of the health summit at KICC, Nairobi.

Dr. Ruto added that one of the least talked about is the advantages of UHC and (SHA), saying that more than 2 million Kenyans from 360,000 vulnerable households are having their SHA contributions covered by the government.

Kenya also has long-term plans of reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths in at least 26 counties that are currently underperforming, according to Director General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth.

Discussions on the second day of the summit taking place today (Tuesday August 19) are expected to chart a path on investments under the National Equipment Service Programme, including Sh9.8 billion spent on increasing access to specialised care through facilities equiped with medical equipment, laboratories, as well as technology.