Kenya’s health system is facing serious challenges in early disease detection, with a new report showing that 19 counties lack proper diagnostic facilities, putting millions at risk during outbreaks.

A joint study by the African Institute for Development Policy and Global Solutions for Diagnostics and Laboratory Systems has found that only 60 percent of counties have diagnostic tools and systems that meet national standards.

The remaining 40 percent are ill-equipped to detect, report, and respond to emerging health threats in time.

The study, carried out through the Diagnostics for Universal Health Coverage Tracker, evaluated the capacity of counties to access diagnostic tools vital for health planning and outbreak response.

According to the findings, nearly half the country does not have the infrastructure needed to identify disease-causing pathogens early enough to prevent wider transmission.

The report highlights the critical role of functional laboratories in testing for diseases such as M-pox, cholera, HIV, and malaria using PCR machines, rapid test kits, microscopy, and culture labs.

These labs also depend on reliable cold storage systems and digital networks to report findings to national surveillance units.

Without this infrastructure, counties cannot act quickly when outbreaks occur. In affected regions, samples often have to be transported over long distances to central labs, delaying diagnosis and slowing the Ministry of Health’s ability to coordinate emergency responses, supply needed tools, or alert other counties in time.

"Delays in diagnosis caused by the lack of nearby testing centres can stretch into days or even weeks," the report notes, adding that such lag time increases the likelihood of uncontrolled spread and late intervention.

The study warns that this situation leaves the country vulnerable to preventable health crises. Without functioning labs, counties lack the ability to track diseases, guide treatment, or launch timely vaccination campaigns.

Researchers behind the report have urged the national government to invest in strengthening diagnostic services across all counties. "Unless counties receive support to develop their diagnostic infrastructure, Kenya will continue to struggle with early disease detection and containment," the report states.

The call for better lab systems is aimed at ensuring counties can mount faster and more effective responses, improving both preparedness and public health outcomes across the country.