President William Ruto Calls for Counties to Prioritise Primary Healthcare as the Foundation of Universal Health Coverage

President William Ruto opened the 9^th Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County with a powerful reaffirmation of his administration’s commitment to universal health coverage (UHC), grounded in the principles of equity, accountability, and strong primary healthcare systems.

The President announced that the government has increased the equitable share of revenue to counties by nearly KShs 30 billion—an unprecedented rise from last year’s KShs 387.4 billion to KShs 415 billion. “This is not just more money; it is a stronger foundation for counties to deliver, develop, and transform lives,” he said, stressing that devolution must translate into better health, dignity, and opportunity for all Kenyans.

With this new allocation, the President underscored that counties now hold the key to making UHC a reality. In his words: “Primary healthcare cannot thrive where corruption thrives; just as the E-Citizen platform has proven that digital accountability delivers services to people, we must demand the same transformation in health.”

Highlighting Kenya’s progress, the President noted that in just 12 years of devolution, the government has transferred over KShs 4 trillion to counties and has completed the transfer of the 14 outstanding devolved functions. He explained that this milestone clears the way for countries to design and implement programmes that respond directly to people’s needs. “Every corner of Kenya now has a functional county government closer to the people than ever before,” he said.

Central to his remarks was the recognition that universal health coverage cannot be achieved without robust primary healthcare. He challenged county leaders to put resources where they matter most: equipping facilities, employing the right personnel, and ensuring that health professionals uphold the highest standards of care. “Advocacy must translate into action by putting resources into saving the lives of mothers and babies, and doing the right thing,” he emphasised.

The President also reiterated the need to confront corruption as the greatest obstacle to health transformation. He pointed to the success of digitisation in closing revenue leakages and boosting collections, arguing that similar innovations must be applied in health. “Our greatest challenge is not the inadequacy of resources, but how we utilise what we have,” he said.

As the conference theme centred on devolution for service delivery, the President placed health at the core of Kenya’s social contract: “Technology and integrity are not luxuries; they are the backbone of a primary healthcare system that works for every Kenyan.”

With leaders, governors, senators, and development partners in attendance, the President’s message was clear: devolution is only as substantial as its ability to protect lives, and universal health coverage will only be real when every Kenyan can access quality primary healthcare—without barriers, without compromise, and without delay.

BETA and Universal Health Coverage (UHC): A Transformative Health Agenda

Under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the Government of Kenya has made Universal Health Coverage (UHC) a central pillar of national development. The vision is clear: no Kenyan should be pushed into poverty by illness, and health must be the foundation for productivity, equity, and inclusive growth.

Key Reforms Driving UHC under BETA:

• Primary Healthcare First – Strengthening community-led PHC as the foundation of UHC, with Community Health Promoters (CHPs) deployed to every household to ensure essential services reach the grassroots.
• Financing for Equity – Establishing the Social Health Authority (SHA) and Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) to replace NHIF with a fairer, mandatory system that reduces out-of-pocket costs and guarantees financial protection.
• Health Infrastructure and Workforce – Scaling up county hospitals, modern diagnostic platforms, and an expanded health workforce to deliver timely, quality care across all 47 counties.
• Digitisation of Health Systems – Implementing the Digital Health Act, eCHIS, and telemedicine to drive efficiency, accountability, and people-centred care.
• Strategic Partnerships – Mobilising private sector innovation, donor support, and civil society collaboration to co-finance health investments and sustain reforms.

Author: Edna Mosiara, Ag. Communications Manager, Amref Health Africa in Kenya