New Program Trains Community Health Promoters Nationwide

In a major push to strengthen grassroots healthcare, Kenya’s Ministry of Health has launched a nationwide training programme for Community Health Promoters (CHPs), covering all 47 counties. Over 107,800 CHPs are being equipped with essential skills for preventive and promotive health services under a revamped training curriculum, developed in partnership with the Global Fund and Amref Health Africa.
The training, which includes both basic and technical modules, is designed to equip CHPs with the knowledge to address county-specific health challenges. According to the Ministry, the modules cover a wide range of topics — from nutrition and sanitation to disease surveillance and noncommunicable disease prevention. County-level efforts are under way: in Kiambu County, for instance, more than 2,000 CHPs are being trained in a 10-day intensive course on maternal and child health, nutrition counselling, and sanitation.
As part of the modernisation drive, CHPs are also being trained to use digital tools. In Kiambu, 3,000 CHPs will learn how to use the electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS) — a mobile‑based application that enables real-time data collection, patient registration, and reportingMeanwhile, in Turkana County, trainers are being prepared to teach CHPs how to manage childhood illnesses and acute malnutrition through integrated community case management (iCCM) and community nutrition interventions
Health officials say this programme will not only improve service delivery but also support Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by strengthening the first line of care in communities. Principal Secretary for Public Health, Mary Muthoni, reiterated the government’s commitment to empowering CHPs through economic initiatives — including entrepreneurship training, financial literacy, and small business support — so they can sustainably contribute to their communities.