Medical Experts Call for National Strategy on Disability Health

Health professionals and disability advocates in Kenya are calling on the government to develop a comprehensive national health strategy that specifically addresses the needs of persons living with disabilities. Experts argue that while Kenya has made policy strides, including the recently launched National Disability Policy 2024, the health sector still lacks a robust, coordinated framework to ensure inclusive, accessible care for people with both visible and hidden disabilities.
According to the Ministry of Health, disability data remains fragmented and inadequate — making it difficult to plan and fund services based on real needs. A senior official recently revealed that the country is still using outdated figures, which undermines efforts to provide equitable care, especially in rehabilitation and assistive technology. Medical experts therefore emphasize the urgency of better data gathering, including disaggregated disability statistics to guide resource allocation.
Part of the call includes strengthening rehabilitative care and assistive technology services. The Ministry of Health already has a Rehabilitative Services and Assistive Technology Strategy (2022–2026), but experts say that its implementation needs to be accelerated. They also want more physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and disability-assessment professionals employed, particularly at county hospitals and in special schools.
Health-sector stakeholders are also pushing for more inclusivity in mainstream health services. They call for healthcare providers to be trained in disability-sensitive care, for clinics to be physically accessible, and for health financing — including the SHA (Social Health Authority) — to ensure that persons with disabilities have consistent access to essential services. Implementation of these recommendations, they argue, would align the health system with Kenya’s disability policy and help deliver UHC in a way that truly leaves no one behind.