President William Ruto has urged countries to take full responsibility for their health systems, cautioning that over-reliance on external donors leaves nations vulnerable.
He said the recent withdrawal of donor support in some countries had exposed serious weaknesses and stressed the need to build resilience through locally driven solutions.
Speaking at a side event on social participation in health equity and resilient societies, co-hosted by Slovenia and the World Health Organisation during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday, Ruto said Kenya is steadily reducing dependence on external support by prioritising domestic resources and community-led health initiatives.
“In Kenya, we are deliberately building a system that is less dependent on external aid and more firmly grounded in domestic solutions and community leadership,” he said.
The President explained that Kenya is advancing universal health coverage through reforms anchored in law. He noted that four new laws on social health insurance have been enacted to ensure every Kenyan has access to essential medical care.
“We recently enacted four transformative laws to drive universal health coverage reforms, including the rollout of social health insurance that guarantees every Kenyan, regardless of background or status, access to essential medical services,” he said.
He added that the government has deployed more than 100,000 community health promoters equipped with medicines, smart devices, and stipends jointly funded by national and county governments to deliver services to remote areas.
“We have empowered community health promoters with medicines, smart devices, and stipends to ensure last-mile delivery of essential services,” he said.
Ruto highlighted that participatory budgeting has been strengthened at both national and county levels through digital platforms, enabling communities to track health resources transparently.
On primary healthcare, the President said government policy is to reinforce community networks so that residents can actively shape planning, implementation, and oversight.
He also pointed out that health literacy programmes are being expanded to help citizens make informed choices and participate in governance.
He noted that collaboration is being encouraged across sectors by linking health to education, agriculture, and social protection. “Together, these strategies are strengthening trust, deepening accountability, and building a health system that truly serves the people,” he said.
The President said the reforms are already yielding results, with expectant mothers gaining better access to antenatal care, children receiving life-saving vaccines, and families being supported in addressing the growing challenge of non-communicable diseases.
Ruto stressed that health equity is closely tied to social justice and sustainable development. He called on the global community to adopt social participation indicators in health frameworks and share innovations that allow citizens to take part in shaping their futures.
He added that investment in health must extend beyond medicines and infrastructure to embrace the democratic right of people to contribute to decision-making.
“The health of nations depends not only on the strength of their hospitals, but also on the strength of citizen voices. Kenya aspires to a future where no child is left behind, no community is unheard, and no citizen is denied their right to health,” he said.
