During a meeting on April 29, 2026, Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale stated, “We must balance the needs of the patients with the actuarial reality of the fund.” This statement came during bilateral talks with a delegation from the European Investment Bank regarding health investments at Kenyatta National Hospital.
The discussions centered on a solarisation pilot project supported by the EIB City Climate Finance Gap Fund. The initiative aims to anchor a broader national rollout targeting at least 2,000 priority health facilities. This program will deploy standardized solar and battery storage systems to improve service continuity across the health infrastructure.
Duale sought continued support from the EIB for financing this rollout and developing innovative financing models. Medical experts at Kenyatta National Hospital noted that “money is only one half of the equation” when discussing healthcare funding.
Cancer treatment remains a pressing issue in Kenya. It is currently the third leading cause of death, with an estimated 42,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Members of Parliament are advocating for an increase in cancer treatment benefits to Sh830,000 per patient per year under the new Social Health Authority framework.
The proposed cap is intended to cover a comprehensive range of services, including advanced diagnostics and chemotherapy. However, medical experts warn of a severe shortage of oncology specialists and functional machines in public hospitals.
The government is targeting KES 133 billion in annual revenue for the Social Health Insurance Fund to support expanded benefits. Dr. Elias Melly remarked, “By the time a patient needs Sh830,000 worth of treatment, the cancer is often at stage 3 or 4,” highlighting urgent needs within the healthcare system.
The National Assembly is expected to vote on revised Social Health Authority Benefit Regulations by the end of May 2026. This vote could significantly impact funding and access to cancer treatment across Kenya.
