Health experts and global partners have highlighted the urgent need for Kenya to update and strengthen its tuberculosis (TB) policies in line with international guidelines. The call follows insights from the Step Up for TB (SUFT) project, a decade-long initiative led by the Stop TB Partnership, which tracks policy adoption in high-burden TB countries and assesses the alignment of national programs with the latest scientific recommendations.
SUFT’s findings reveal that outdated policies in several countries, including some high TB burden regions in Africa, contribute to delayed diagnosis, ineffective treatment, and preventable deaths. The project provides detailed assessments covering diagnostics, treatment, prevention, financing, and equity in TB care. In Kenya, aligning national TB strategies with WHO guidelines is expected to accelerate early detection, improve patient outcomes, and strengthen health system efficiency. Past SUFT surveys have shown that countries actively implementing evidence-based TB policies experience measurable reductions in transmission and mortality rates.
Health advocates emphasize that updating policies is not merely a bureaucratic exercise, but a life-saving measure. With continued collaboration among government agencies, civil society, and international partners, Kenya can leverage SUFT’s data-driven insights to prioritize resources, enhance program planning, and accelerate the fight against TB. Experts warn that delays in adopting modern TB diagnostics and treatment regimens could undermine national TB control efforts, stressing the importance of sustained advocacy and political commitment.