President Ruto urges nations to cut reliance on donors in health systems

President William Ruto has challenged nations to take ownership of their health systems, warning that reliance on external donors weakens resilience.

The President said the recent withdrawal of some external funds exposed national vulnerabilities and offered an important lesson for strengthening local health systems.

He said Kenya is steadily cutting dependence on external donors by anchoring its health system on local resources and community-led solutions.

“In Kenya, we are deliberately building a system that is less dependent on external aid and more firmly grounded in domestic solutions and community leadership," he pointed out.

President Ruto spoke during a side event on social participation in health equity and resilient societies co-hosted by Slovenia and the World Health Organisation at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday.

To take control of Kenya’s health systems, the President explained that the country is advancing universal health coverage through reforms anchored in law.

He said four new laws on social health insurance have been enacted to guarantee every Kenyan access to essential medical care.

“We recently enacted four transformative laws to drive universal health coverage reforms, including the rollout of social health insurance that guarantees every Kenyan, regardless of background or status, access to essential medical services,” he said.

President Ruto pointed out that Kenya has deployed more than 100,000 community health promoters equipped with medicines, smart devices, and stipends co-financed by national and county governments to deliver services at the last mile.

He said this move has ensured that even the most remote households access basic healthcare.

“We have empowered community health promoters with medicines, smart devices, and stipends to ensure last-mile delivery of essential services,” he said.

Saying participatory budgeting has been strengthened at both national and county levels through digital platforms, the President explained that this had enabled communities to track health resources transparently.

On Primary HealthCare, he noted that it is government policy to reinforce and strengthen community networks so that residents can actively shape planning, implementation, and oversight.

President Ruto said health literacy programmes are being expanded to equip citizens with the knowledge to make informed decisions and engage meaningfully in governance.

He also said the government is promoting collaboration across sectors by linking health with education, agriculture, and social protection.

“Together, these strategies are strengthening trust, deepening accountability, and building a health system that truly serves the people,” he said.

The President said health reforms are already making an impact. He said pregnant mothers now have better access to ante-natal care while children are receiving life-saving vaccines, and families are being supported in addressing the rising burden of non-communicable diseases.

President Ruto explained that these reforms demonstrate that health equity is inseparable from social justice and sustainable development.

He called on the global community to embed social participation indicators in health frameworks and share innovations that empower citizens to shape their destinies.

The President said investment must go beyond medicines and infrastructure to include the democratic right of people to participate in decisions about their health.

“The health of nations depends not only on the strength of their hospitals, but also on the strength of citizen voices. Kenya aspires to a future where no child is left behind, no community is unheard, and no citizen is denied their right to health,” he said.