Healthcare in Kenya
 

Basic government-funded public healthcare is provided at primary healthcare centres and dispensaries. The government pharmaceutical chain KEMSA provides medication and medical supplies to government dispensaries. These are usually run and managed by nurses.

Public health centres provide free services for simple ailments such as the common cold and flu, uncomplicated malaria and minor skin conditions. Patients with conditions that cannot be handled by a nurse are referred to clinics and hospitals.

While expats are not restricted from using public healthcare, the standards they will encounter may be well below what they are accustomed to. Expats living in Kenya will find that public healthcare programmes and facilities tend to be understaffed, poorly equipped and lacking in supplies. The Central Province and Nairobi offer the best public healthcare facilities, whereas the North-Eastern Province is the most under-developed.

The private healthcare sector in Kenya has become more prominent in recent years. Private clinics of varying standards exist in most major urban centres, including coastal beach resort areas such as Diani and Malindi. Private hospitals can be found mainly in Nairobi, with a few options in Mombasa.

The private Aga Khan University hospital, located in Nairobi, is widely respected and is popular among expats. However, expats should be aware that private healthcare in Kenya can be prohibitively expensive without the assistance of a comprehensive health insurance policy. Good health insurance will also cover travel to other, better equipped, countries such as South Africa in cases where specialised care is required.

The Kenyan healthcare system has been plagued by issues of low-quality and counterfeit medication. In large cities, expats will find an abundance of small road-side pharmacies. While these may be cheaper than large chain pharmacies attached to reputable hospitals, they are also more likely to have issues with fake medication, and their staff are less likely to be trained or qualified to give sound medical advice.

Most prescription medication should be available in Kenya. However, brand names can differ from country to country, so expats should note the generic name of any medication before travelling. It is also unlikely that any significant issues will be encountered when bringing prescription medication into Kenya. Expats are advised to bring the original packaging and to have a copy of the prescription on hand when travelling.

There are a few potential health hazards to be aware of in Kenya. Malaria is still a problem in parts of Kenya, while yellow fever, to a lesser extent, is also warned against. The risk of contracting malaria is higher in rural parts of Kenya, so expats planning to spend time in these areas are advised to consider precautionary methods such as anti-malarial prophylaxis and using repellent.

In certain regions, altitude sickness or heat-related ailments may also be a risk. Expats should be sure to drink enough water and avoid overexposure to the sun. If food safety is a concern, it is best to avoid drinking tap water and eating any food containing unpasteurised dairy products.

Routine vaccinations are recommended, as well as additional vaccinations for Covid, polio, rabies and hepatitis, particularly if expats plan on spending time in rural areas. It is also recommended that expats moving to Kenya have a yellow fever vaccination and carry the certificate when travelling in and out of the country, particularly those expats travelling from countries with high yellow fever prevalence.

Emergency services in Kenya outside of large cities are limited and largely unreliable. Ambulance response times, in general, tend to be slow as there are not many rapid response vehicles. Even when available, Kenyan ambulances may not always be equipped to expat standards.

Some serious health issues will require medical evacuation. This can also be extremely costly, and expats should ensure that their health insurance will provide appropriate cover.

The medical emergency number in Kenya is 999 and is run by English-speaking operators. Expats should be sure to carry the contact details of their nearest embassy in case of an emergency.