Rising Cases of Lifestyle Diseases Spark National Health Alert

A recent health‑sector report reveals a dramatic rise in non‑communicable diseases (NCDs) in Kenya, prompting a nationwide call for urgent action. According to the 2024 national vital‑statistics data, NCDs — including heart disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory illnesses — now account for 61.7% of the country’s disease burden, up from 52.4% just the year before.
One of the most worrying trends is the growing prevalence of high blood pressure. A 2025 report from World Health Organization (WHO) shows nearly one in four Kenyan adults suffers from hypertension — the silent killer — yet the majority remain undiagnosed or unmanaged. Further, shifting diets, reduced physical activity, and rising rates of overweight and obesity are driving this surge.
The rise of lifestyle‑related illnesses is not limited to older populations. Health professionals warn that younger, economically active adults are increasingly being diagnosed with heart disease, diabetes and complications once seen mostly in older people. Meanwhile, changes in diet — including more processed and unhealthy foods — combined with sedentary lifestyles, alcohol use, and tobacco consumption are identified as major risk factors.
In response to these alarming trends, public‑health experts and government officials are urging a shift: more funding for preventive care, widespread screening programmes, public education on healthy living and better regulation of food products. Kenya’s national strategy to fight NCDs emphasizes promoting healthier diets, increasing physical activity, and strengthening early detection and treatment services.