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Ministry to deploy AI in community healthcare programmes
Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni, speaks during the Health Summit event held at Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi on April 15, 2025.
The Ministry of Health targets to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into the country's community health systems as a strategy to boost services.
The ministry revealed that it will partner with a Barcelona-based AI company, Causal Foundry, to deploy the technology in three core areas, including data use, clinical decision-making and service delivery at the primary care level.
The AI deployment is expected to help community health workers (CHWs) make faster and more informed decisions in the field, where the gap between data and action is usually experienced the most. CHWs are trained to provide a range of health services, including immunisation, prenatal care, nutrition education and treatment of common illnesses.
"The collaboration reflects the ministry's commitment to deploying responsible, people-centred technology to reinforce primary healthcare systems and fast-track progress towards universal health coverage," said Mary Muthoni, Health Principal Secretary.
AI technology allows computers and machines to simulate human intelligence and problem-solving tasks. The technology can be applied to many sectors and industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, mining, and the military.
Community workers play a critical role in Kenya’s healthcare system by bridging households and formal health facilities.
Kenya has a network of more than 100,000 community health promoters( CHPs) who serve as the first point of contact for millions of Kenyans in rural and underserved areas. CHPs conduct home visits, collect household health data, provide basic health education, and refer patients to higher-level care when needed.
However, they rely heavily on basic digital tools, which often result in delayed or incomplete health information reaching decision-makers.
The draft Kenya National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025 – 2030 targets to roll out a governance framework, that will promote the use of technology in sectors such as agriculture, security, healthcare, education, and public service delivery.
