Counties Invest in Modern Ambulance Services

Several Kenyan county governments are significantly upgrading their emergency medical services by investing in modern ambulance fleets, signalling a commitment to strengthening pre-hospital care. In Kiambu County, officials have rolled out 16 newly assembled smart ambulances equipped with GPS tracking, oxygen supply, trauma kits, defibrillators, and a digital dispatch system to reduce response times. The ambulances were assembled locally to lower costs and encourage county-level manufacturing, according to the county government.
In Kisii County, the government has acquired 10 advanced ambulances to serve all nine sub-counties plus the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital.According to the county, these vehicles are fully equipped and will operate with trained Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) to stabilize patients en route to healthcare facilities.
Kakamega County is also ramping up its emergency response capacity. The county government, in partnership with the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS), flagged off 12 new ambulances, including two advanced life-support units (essentially mobile ICUs) The deal was struck under a five-year lease agreement to ensure sustainability and consistent emergency coverage across all 12 sub-counties.
Meanwhile, Narok County has re-introduced ambulance services after suspending them due to management and financial issues. The county says it has cleared the outstanding debt and set up a new governance structure to manage the fleet more effectively, with six ambulances stationed at different sub-county hospitals.
At the national level, the Ministry of Health is backing these county initiatives by launching a National Emergency Ambulance Dispatch System, to go live on 1 December 2025. The system will centralize ambulance calls via a toll‑free number and dispatch the nearest available ambulance, including county-owned ones, using real-time tracking to improve response times and save more lives.