AI Tools Improve Early Detection of Diseases

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being deployed across Kenya’s health system to boost early disease detection and improve diagnostic accuracy. In a significant development, the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has rolled out 80 ultra‑portable AI‑powered digital chest X-ray units to 43 counties, helping detect tuberculosis (TB), chronic lung disease, and other respiratory conditions more quickly.The AI-integrated images provide automated readings that highlight lung abnormalities, greatly reducing the time radiographers spend analyzing scans.
In Kirinyaga County, the Kimbimbi Level Four Hospital has installed an AI system that works with its X-ray machines, helping radiographers identify conditions such as TB, cancer, and COPD accurately and speedily.1 This is especially useful in resource-limited settings where human capacity is stretched and misdiagnosis can delay critical treatment.
At the Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital, AI is being used for predictive analytics to spot disease trends early on, optimize resource use, and support decision-making. Meanwhile, Nakuru is also planning for broader AI application, including remote patient monitoring with AI-enabled devices that analyze vital signs and flag abnormalities.On the diagnostic imaging front, The Nairobi Hospital has introduced East Africa’s first AI-powered 256-slice CT scanner, which uses machine learning to offer fast, high-resolution imaging with lower radiation exposure.Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale described it as a life‑saving innovation for detecting cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders earlier.