PATH’s Center for Advocacy and Policy, in collaboration with Kenya’s Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors, officially launched the Kenya Primary Health Care Webinar Learning Series. Targeting primary health care (PHC) stakeholders across Kenya—at both national and county levels, as well as implementing partners—the series aims to strengthen Kenya’s PHC system by fostering collective learning dialogues and collaboration that drive effective implementation of PHC policies, maximize the impact of PHC reforms, and ultimately improve access, quality, and equity of PHC services across the country.
Speaking during the inaugural webinar, Dr. Joseph Lenai, Head of the Preventive and Promotive Health Services Directorate at the Ministry of Health, noted that Kenya has made remarkable progress in advancing universal health coverage through PHC, earning international recognition for its efforts. He encouraged all stakeholders to use the webinar learning series as a platform to address existing gaps and accelerate progress, and expressed the ministry’s desire to share lessons from Kenya with other countries in the region.
From policy to action—highlights, opportunities, and experiences
The inaugural learning webinar, titled “From Policy to Action—Accelerating Implementation of Primary Health Care Reforms in Kenya,” provided a comprehensive overview of Kenya’s PHC policy landscape. The session highlighted key reforms in the health sector, progress, and emerging opportunities at both national and county levels, while showcasing county-level experiences in implementing recent PHC reforms. Bringing together over 130 participants, the webinar featured expert insights from national and county leaders, including Dr. Joseph Lenai and Dr. Salim Hussein from the Ministry of Health; Dr. Joy Mugambi from Nakuru County; Dr. Stephen Mwatha from Makueni County; Dr. Mutakha Kangu from the Council of Governors; and Eunice Ndung’u from UNICEF. The session was moderated by Wanjiku Manguyu, PATH Regional Advocacy and Policy Advisor.
Starting with county experience, Dr. Mwatha, Makueni County Director for Preventive and Promotive Health, shared the county’s journey in establishing primary care networks (PCNs). Makueni County reports 100 percent PCN coverage and full financial retention at the facility level, with each health facility independently managing its own revenue. This autonomy has strengthened the continuity of essential health services and exemplifies the successful implementation of Kenya’s Facilities Improvement Financing Act 2023.
Dr. Mwatha attributed this success to strong political leadership, prioritization of community engagement for the uptake and sustainability of PCNs, recognition of the power of decentralized financing in enhancing facility autonomy and service quality, and the importance of multisectoral collaboration to improve resource mobilization. Looking ahead, he noted that digitizing PCNs presents an opportunity to improve coordination, monitoring, data use, and efficiency. Makueni County’s experience offers practical lessons that can inform and inspire other counties’ PHC implementation efforts.
Aligning policy updates with county realities
The panel discussion explored practical pathways for translating PHC reforms into action, drawing on county experiences and national perspectives. Speakers reflected on lessons from counties that have demonstrated measurable progress, highlighting innovations and approaches that can inform broader implementation. The discussion also examined the policy reforms and partnerships needed to create an enabling environment for PHC rollout and strategies to sustain momentum through continuous learning, collaboration, and adaptive implementation across all levels of the health system.
During the panel, Dr. Joy Mugambi, Director of Health, Administration, and Planning in Nakuru County, highlighted the value of shared learning across counties and the use of a dedicated PHC dashboard to enhance data visibility for decision-making and to drive continuous improvement. To advance progress and sustainability, she emphasized the importance of working with communities to co-create, co-fund, and co-implement solutions tailored to local needs.
Eunice Ndung’u, Primary Care Health Specialist at UNICEF Kenya, discussed how simple adaptations and contextualization have advanced PHC implementation in counties. She pointed to examples where counties have adapted to address the needs of their specific populations and contexts, for instance, in geographically vast counties, modification of the hub-and-spoke referral model to incorporate minihubs, and decentralizing specialist services to a ward model to ensure communities have access to the full range of health specialists. She stressed the importance of strengthening knowledge management through documentation and integration of implementation research to better understand what works and what does not.
Dr. Mutakha Kangu, Senior Counsel and Reforms Advisor at the Council of Governors, addressed Kenya’s urgent policy priorities. He emphasized the need to align policy development with sustainable financing mechanisms, advocate for earmarked health funding to reduce political interference, and ensure consistent resource allocation. He underscored that policy reforms must be backed by robust financing strategies to be effective and sustainable
Looking ahead
The launch of the Kenya Primary Health Care Webinar Learning Series marks a significant milestone in advancing PHC across the country. By fostering shared learning, cross-county collaboration, and the exchange of actionable insights, these learning webinars serve as a vital bridge between national policy and county-level implementation. Through its support, PATH reaffirms its commitment to inclusive dialogue and mutual learning, key drivers in Kenya’s pursuit of equitable, people-centered PHC.
The full English webinar recording can be accessed here.
Interested in joining the next webinar on PHC financing? Contact us at Advocacyandpolicy@path.org to learn more and stay engaged.
