Ruto: Healthcare in Kenya is changing for the better
President William Ruto has revealed that the number of Kenyans covered under health insurance has grown from 7 million to over 26 million.
Speaking during the 70th anniversary celebration of the Africa Inland Church (AIC) on Sunday, October 12, 2025, Ruto said this is a sign that the country’s healthcare system is improving and that the government’s reforms are bearing fruit.
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Ruto said, “Mambo za matibabu yanazidi kuwa bora zaidi. Tulikuwa na Wakenya milioni saba katika bima ya afya, sasa tumefikisha milioni ishirini na sita laki saba.”
He went on to thank God for the progress made so far, saying that the changes happening in the country are a result of faith and commitment.
“Kwa neema ya Mungu, yale mipango tumekuwa nayo miaka mingi, ya ujenzi, ya housing, ya hostels, tunaona Mungu ametufungulia njia, sasa yanonekana kwa macho,” he said.
Kenya’s healthcare transformation
The president’s remarks come at a time when the government has been pushing major health reforms under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which is expected to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for all Kenyans.
However, Kenya’s health sector still faces major struggles, such as underfunded public hospitals, frequent doctors’ strikes, delayed medical supplies, and overcrowded facilities.
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Many citizens also complain about poor service delivery and limited access to quality healthcare in both urban and rural areas, issues the government hopes SHIF will help resolve.
Ruto linked the success to collective effort and faith, saying that the country’s progress in healthcare, infrastructure, and development is proof that God has opened doors for Kenya. “As we celebrate 70 years of the AIC church, we want to thank God. It is by God’s grace we are making progress,” he said.
Looking to the future, Ruto said his dream is to see Kenya transform into a developed country within the next three decades.
The President concluded by expressing hope for Kenya’s future, saying that in the next 30 years, the country aims to rise from a third-world nation to a first-class country.
“Miaka thelathini ijayo, sisi kama nchi, taifa yetu ya Kenya, maombi yetu kwa Mungu ni Kenya itoke kutoka third world to first class,” he said.
