Tuberculosis Rates Decline After Targeted Interventions

Kenya is recording significant progress in its battle against tuberculosis (TB), driven by strategic government interventions. According to the Ministry of Health and public health sources, TB incidence in the country fell from 168,000 estimated cases in 2023 to approximately 124,000 in 2024—a 41% drop compared to 2015 figures. This decline is largely attributed to strengthened diagnostic capacity, including the rollout of AI-enabled digital chest X-ray units powered by artificial intelligence to quickly detect TB even in remote areas. These 80 ultra-portable units are being distributed across 43 counties to improve early diagnosis and reduce transmission.
Additionally, the government has updated its Integrated Lung Health Guidelines, aligning closely with WHO standards to ensure smooth, rapid follow-up and treatment once TB is suspected. Treatment coverage has improved too: in 2024, Kenya notified 96,865 TB cases, up from 77,000+ a year earlier, raising the treatment coverage rate to 77%.Experts believe that these gains are a testament to strong partnerships and innovation: the Ministry of Health is collaborating with global funders and technical partners to expand diagnostics, integrate TB into broader lung-health services, and build community-based care systems