By Mumo Judah, June 22, 2026
President William Ruto has announced that Kenya will launch its first-ever National Ambulance Dispatch Centre by the end of July, marking a major milestone in the country’s emergency healthcare system.
Speaking during the 95th St. John Ambulance Annual Parade and Inspection held at State House, Nairobi, on Sunday, June 21, 2026, the President said the new centre will make Kenya only the second country in Africa to establish a nationally coordinated ambulance dispatch framework.
Ruto said the facility will be integrated into the country’s digital health infrastructure and managed through the Digital Health Agency to enhance emergency response and coordination across the country.
“I am pleased to announce that Kenya will launch its first national ambulance dispatch center becoming only the second African country to establish a nationally coordinated ambulance dispatch system. The center, which is scheduled to be launched at the end of July—this is next month—will be integrated into our digital health infrastructure and powered by the digital health agency, enabling faster coordination, real-time deployment, and more efficient emergency response across the country,” said President Ruto.
He said the system will provide free emergency evacuation services to all Kenyans requiring urgent medical attention.
“Most importantly, every Kenyan who requires emergency evacuation through this system will receive them free of charge,” he said.
The President noted that the dispatch centre will help reduce response times by coordinating ambulance movements from a central point.
“To strengthen emergency care, we are setting up a National Ambulance Dispatch Centre in Nairobi, which will coordinate activities and ensure faster arrival times. The service will be free for every Kenyan,” he added.
According to the President, the centre is expected to coordinate approximately 100,000 emergency evacuations annually once fully operational.
The system will be linked to a digital platform powered by the Digital Health Agency, enabling real-time tracking and deployment of ambulances across the country.
Funding for the programme will be provided through the Social Health Authority (SHA) under the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund. The arrangement will ensure that accident victims and patients requiring critical emergency services receive free coverage during the first 24 hours following an incident.
The initiative forms part of the government’s broader agenda to strengthen emergency healthcare services and improve access to timely medical interventions nationwide.
