Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, State Department for Public Health & Professional Standards, has highlighted the growing impact of Taifa Care, Kenya’s flagship health program, which she says is steadily moving from policy planning to tangible implementation on the ground.
Speaking about the program’s progress, Muthoni emphasized the importance of collaboration between national and county governments under the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC).
“Taifa Care is steadily transitioning from policy to implementation, guided by strong national–county collaboration under IBEC. We are continuously working to strengthen its key pillars: digital transformation, sustainable health financing through SHA, human resources for health, and secure medical commodity supply to ensure the system delivers effectively and sustainably for all Kenyans,” she said.
Highlighting the program’s reach, Muthoni noted that over 29 million Kenyans are now registered on Afya Yangu, and the innovative ‘Lipa SHA Pole Pole’ model is making healthcare more accessible to more people.
“We remain focused on improving service delivery, transparency, and accountability as we progressively advance Universal Health Coverage across the country,” she added.
Muthoni joined Cabinet Secretary for Health Hon. Aden Duale at the 29th IBEC meeting hosted by Deputy President H.E. Kithure Kindiki in Nairobi, where she reaffirmed the commitment of national and county governments to ensuring that every Kenyan benefits from the program.
“Together with county governments, we reaffirmed our shared responsibility to enhance quality of care, streamline claims management, and ensure no Kenyan is left behind as Taifa Care evolves,” she said.
She stressed that the program’s pillars—including digital health systems, sustainable financing, skilled health workers, and reliable medical supplies—are critical to building a healthcare system that is efficient, equitable, and accountable, ensuring that all Kenyans have access to quality care regardless of location or income.