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Health CS Duale Opens 8th KMTC Scientific Conference with Bold Health Equity Vision

Health CS Duale Opens 8th KMTC Scientific Conference with Bold Health Equity Vision

Theme: Advancing Health Equity in a Rapidly Changing Environment

Gerald Kombo
June 04, 2025

The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) hosted the official opening of its 8th Biennial Scientific Conference at its headquarters in Nairobi, drawing an influential gathering of researchers, policymakers, educators, and frontline health professionals from across the country.

Under the theme, “Advancing Health Equity in a Rapidly Changing Environment,” the three-day convening underscores KMTC’s pivotal role in aligning Kenya’s health workforce with the dynamic demands of universal health coverage, digital transformation, climate change, and demographic shifts.

The conference’s chief guest, Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale, delivered a keynote speech that mixed candor, urgency, and ambition. His remarks touched on the gaps that have hindered health equity in Kenya and laid out a blueprint for renewed leadership, accountability, and systemic reform.

Historical Reflections: From False Starts to Fresh Mandates

CS Duale traced back the roots of Kenya’s health reforms back to 2017. He acknowledged early efforts at implementing structural health changes that began in a few counties but faltered due to political and institutional inertia.

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This journey started in four counties — Kisumu, Kisii... around 2017. I remember a meeting being called then, but somewhere, the ball was dropped, said the CS.
The political will dissipated. The plan lost momentum. But now, under new leadership, that mission must be revived with seriousness and urgency.

In this, Duale signaled a critical departure from past cycles of start-stop health reforms. He insisted that meaningful progress requires sustained national direction and intergovernmental consensus — especially between the Ministry and the Council of Governors.

A Stark Diagnosis: 80% of Kenyans Lack Health Coverage

Painting a sobering picture of inequality, CS Duale turned attention to the issue of insurance access. Despite years of policy rhetoric around Universal Health Coverage (UHC), only about 20% of Kenyans are enrolled in any formal health insurance scheme.

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It is shocking that in 2024, only 3 million Kenyans were actively covered in our former NHIF program, he said. That leaves more than 80% of our population exposed — many of whom fall into poverty due to a single medical bill.

He cited that in 2020 alone, Kenyans spent KSh 53 billion out-of-pocket on health — a staggering statistic that reflects the country’s fragile social protection mechanisms.

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No Kenyan should die because they can’t afford treatment. That is why we have launched a new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) — not as a cosmetic change, but a revolution, he declared.

At the core of the CS’s speech was Kenya’s transition to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), a model designed to replace NHIF with a more accountable, transparent, and equitable financing system.

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With SHIF, as long as you’re registered, you can walk into any level 2 to level 4 facility across the country and get treated, he said. Funding has been increased by over 200% to ensure essential drugs are stocked even in the most remote parts of Kenya.

He also detailed digital reforms meant to clean up the system:

Ghost hospitals and providers will be eliminated through real-time tracking.
Every surgery or high-cost intervention will be linked to verified facilities and clinicians.
Fraudulent billing and counterfeit drugs will be actively detected and removed.

“We will know who performed the surgery. We will see the drug dispensed. We are taking out ghost facilities and replacing corruption with care,” Duale said.

Legal Roadblocks and Political Courage

Addressing previous pushbacks and court cases that delayed implementation of SHIF, Duale was frank:

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Yes, some took us to court. Yes, the reforms faced resistance. But let me tell you: for a country to move from developing to developed, two things must be in place — world-class education and quality healthcare, he asserted.

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If we fear reform, we fear prosperity.

KMTC: Backbone of the Health Workforce

Praising KMTC as an essential pillar in this transformation, Duale emphasized the College’s responsibility in training Kenya’s future clinical officers, nurses, laboratory technicians, and other frontline staff.

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This institution is not just a college. It is a national engine for health equity, he said.
We need more trained staff, more specialists — not just generalists. We must train our best to serve the most vulnerable.

He encouraged KMTC to expand programs, modernize curricula, and ensure graduates are well-equipped to function in both rural and urban contexts, especially as the country rolls out the Primary Health Care (PHC) network.

A National Call to Action

Closing his remarks, the Health CS called on all players — from counties to clinicians — to rally behind the shared vision of health justice and service equity:

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Let us not be the generation that looked back. We must go forward. Kenya cannot afford to leave its people behind when it comes to health, he said.
KMTC, Ministry officials, and every health worker — this is your moment. Let’s get it right.

Looking Ahead

As the conference continues, researchers and practitioners are expected to present cutting-edge studies on community health models, digital diagnostics, climate-related health impacts, and innovations in patient-centered care.

With the bar set high by CS Duale’s speech, the 8th Biennial KMTC Scientific Conference is not just a scholarly gathering — but a policy-defining moment.

About KMTC

Founded in 1927, Kenya Medical Training College is the leading public institution for mid-level health training in Kenya, with over 70 campuses and more than 90,000 graduates to date. Its vision is to be a model institution for the training and development of competent health professionals.