Medical interns get Ksh 4.3B slice of Govt’s Ksh 138B health budget

The government has set aside Ksh 138.1 billion for the health sector in the 2025/26 budget, with Ksh 4.3 billion earmarked to support the deployment and payment of medical interns.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said a big chunk of the health budget will go into funding the implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across the country to strengthen health services, improve access to treatment, and support key programmes to make healthcare more affordable for all Kenyans.

Out of the total allocation, Ksh 6.2 billion will go into coordinating and managing the UHC programme, while Ksh 13.1 billion has been set aside for the Primary Healthcare Fund and Ksh 430 million for medical cover for orphans, the elderly and persons living with severe disabilities

To support the healthcare workforce, Ksh 3.2 billion has been allocated for community health promoters, while Ksh 303 million will go into training healthcare workers.

Additionally, Kenya Medical Training Colleges (KMTCs) will receive Ksh 8.9 billion to support the training of future health professionals.

To reduce the country’s disease burden, the Treasury has injected Ksh 17.3 billion to the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, while Ksh 4.6 billion will go to the national vaccines and immunisation programme.

Mbadi further proposed Ksh 8 billion for the Emergencies, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund to boost the fight against cancer and chronic illnesses.

An additional Ksh 1 billion will go towards the construction of a cancer centre at Kisii Level 5 Hospital, Ksh 100 million for strengthening cancer services at the Kenyatta National Hospital, and another Ksh 100 million for the expansion of comprehensive cancer care at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital.

Referral hospitals will share Ksh 42.4 billion to support operations and upgrade services.

These include, Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenyatta University Referral Hospital, Mwai Kibaki Teaching and Referral Hospital in Othaya, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, and Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Another Ksh 1.3 billion has been set aside for a new Borns and Paediatrics Centre at Kenyatta National Hospital.

The Kenya Medical Supplies Agency has been allocated Ksh 5.2 billion to support the distribution of essential medicines and medical products.

The budget also proposes Ksh 2.7 billion for the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Ksh 500 million for procurement of family planning and reproductive health commodities, and Ksh 300 million for equipment at the National Blood Transfusion Services.