NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug. 5 — President William Ruto has launched the SHA 922 Lifeline and National Ambulance Dispatch Centre, unveiling a nationwide emergency medical response system aimed at ensuring all Kenyans can access lifesaving care regardless of their financial status.
The new service introduces 922 as Kenya’s single national emergency medical number, providing free access across all mobile networks, even without airtime.
Speaking during the launch in Nairobi on Wednesday, President Ruto said the initiative fulfills the constitutional guarantee that no Kenyan should be denied emergency medical treatment.
“Today, we are turning a constitutional guarantee into a service that every Kenyan can reach,” the President said.
Under the new system, callers to 922 will be connected to trained emergency dispatchers who will assess the situation, identify the caller’s location, dispatch the nearest available ambulance and direct patients to the most appropriate health facility capable of handling their condition.
The emergency response will be integrated into Kenya’s national digital health system, allowing ambulance dispatch, hospital admission, treatment and payment to be managed through one coordinated platform.
Government to Cover Emergency Costs
President Ruto announced that ambulance evacuation and the first 24 hours of emergency treatment will be financed through the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, removing financial barriers that have previously delayed treatment.
The coverage will apply to all patients, including those who are not registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
“No deposit. No guarantee. No negotiation. In an emergency, the first question must never be whether a patient can pay. The first duty is to save life,” Ruto said.
He warned hospitals contracted under SHA against denying or delaying emergency treatment because of inability to pay or incomplete documentation, emphasizing that emergency healthcare is a constitutional obligation rather than a government policy.
Part of Broader Health Reforms
The President said the launch builds on ongoing health sector reforms introduced since 2023.
According to the government:
- 32.2 million Kenyans have registered under SHA.
- Eight million people have received treatment through the scheme.
- KSh178.5 billion has been paid to healthcare facilities.
- 107,000 Community Health Promoters have been trained and deployed nationwide.
- More than 50,000 cancer patients have received treatment.
- Nearly 21,000 dialysis patients are currently receiving care through the national health system.
- The Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund has received KSh8 billion in government funding.
President Ruto said the new emergency dispatch system brings these reforms together by ensuring funding moves directly through the health system instead of requiring patients or their families to make upfront payments.
Counties and Private Providers to Join System
The National Ambulance Dispatch Centre will coordinate ambulances operated by county governments, faith-based organizations, the Kenya Red Cross Society, St John Ambulance and private providers without taking over ownership of the vehicles.
The President noted that 1,243 ambulance and emergency service providers have already been contracted under SHA but directed the Ministry of Health, SHA and the Council of Governors to onboard all eligible ambulance operators by December 31, 2026.
He said the service should benefit every Kenyan, whether in urban centres or remote areas.
“This service must work for the pastoralist in Turkana, the farmer in Nyeri, the fisherman in Homa Bay, the hustler in Nairobi and the family travelling on any road anywhere in our Republic.”
Call for Accountability
President Ruto said the success of the emergency response system will depend on accountability and efficiency.
“Every call must be answered. Every ambulance must be traceable. Every payment must be transparent. Every failure must be investigated and corrected,” he said.
He described the launch as a significant milestone toward building a coordinated national emergency healthcare system anchored in the Constitution.
The President concluded by describing the initiative as “One country. One emergency number. One clear duty: To save every life we can.”
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