Abdi Osman

Kenya stands at a crossroads in healthcare reform. The promise of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the transition to new financing arrangements, repeated restructuring within health governance, and renewed commitments from government leadership have once again placed healthcare at the centre of national discourse. Recent ministerial pronouncements continue to emphasise accountability, regulatory strengthening, workforce development, and accelerated UHC implementation.

What you need to know: Kenya cannot build a stronger, safer or more equitable health system unless it deliberately empowers nurses. Despite being the most patient-facing cadre in healthcare, nurses  remain underrepresented where strategic decisions are made. Nurses are truly the backbone of any healthcare system, though the phrase itself is becoming almost a cliché. Every year, nurses worldwide commemorate Nurses Week during the second week of May.