Nairobi: Kenya is accelerating efforts to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) as a public health threat, with the Government reaffirming its commitment to close the gap in diagnosis and treatment while scaling up community-driven interventions across the country.
According to Kenya News Agency, during the 2026 World TB Day commemorations held at the University of Nairobi Graduation Square, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Health Aden Duale revealed that 90,900 people were diagnosed and initiated on treatment in 2025, representing 81 percent of the estimated TB burden. Duale emphasized the significance of closing this gap, highlighting the lives affected and the ongoing transmission within communities.
The event, under the theme ‘Yes! We Can End TB – Led by Government, Driven by Communities’, highlighted the necessity of a coordinated, whole-of-government approach, with communities playing a central role in prevention, detection, and treatment. Duale noted that Kenya has made significant progress, with a 45 percent reduction in TB incidence and a 58 percent decline in TB-related deaths since 2015, achieved through sustained government investment and strong county collaboration.
To enhance early detection and access to care, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with county governments, has expanded TB services across all 47 counties. This includes deploying molecular diagnostic technologies and ultraportable AI-enabled digital X-ray machines, which enable early and accurate detection, even in remote areas, aligning with the goal of Universal Health Coverage.
Duale stressed that ending TB requires more than medical interventions, acknowledging the disease’s links to poverty, overcrowding, malnutrition, and environmental factors. The Government is therefore adopting an integrated, multi-sectoral response to address these underlying drivers, focusing on improving living conditions, enhancing nutrition, and expanding access to screening and care in high-risk settings.
With 63 percent of TB cases reported among men, Duale called for targeted, gender-responsive strategies to improve health-seeking behavior. These strategies include workplace programs, community outreach, and digital self-screening tools to encourage early diagnosis and treatment. He also emphasized the importance of sustained public awareness campaigns to promote treatment adherence, reduce stigma, and encourage household screening.
Duale highlighted the critical role of community health promoters, civil society, faith leaders, and TB survivors in supporting treatment adherence and driving behavior change at the grassroots level. He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ending TB, describing it as both a public health priority and a national development imperative, aimed at protecting households, sustaining a productive workforce, and advancing Universal Health Coverage.
