The Ministry of Health is advancing efforts to establish a sustainable, government-led wheelchair service delivery system to expand access to quality assistive technology and strengthen rehabilitation services across the country.
Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga chaired a consultative meeting with wheelchair service providers, local manufacturers, development partners and rehabilitation leaders to explore practical solutions to Kenya’s estimated unmet need of approximately 550,000 wheelchairs.
Discussions focused on promoting local manufacturing and assembly of affordable, quality wheelchairs; addressing taxation on wheelchair components and production costs; strengthening the Social Health Insurance Fund benefits package; reducing disability-related stigma; and improving coordination, data management and partnerships.
Stakeholders underscored that wheelchair provision goes beyond supplying a device and requires assessment, prescription, fitting, user training, maintenance, repair and follow-up to ensure appropriate support and better outcomes.
Dr. Oluga highlighted progress under the AT scale Kenya Project, including the training of 218 rehabilitation professionals using World Health Organization Wheelchair Service Provision Packages and the distribution of 1,000 wheelchairs through the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority to county and national referral facilities.
He encouraged local manufacturers to leverage the Kenya Health Products and Technologies Manufacturing Strategy 2026–2030 to expand production, improve quality, foster innovation and enhance the affordability and availability of wheelchairs.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to partnerships that expand access to quality assistive technology, strengthen rehabilitation services and promote local manufacturing and innovation in line with universal health coverage.
Present were ministry officials and representatives from AT Scale Kenya Project, Clinton Health Access Initiative, APDK, Bethany Kids, Hope Mobility Kenya, Motivation Charitable Trust and Walkabout Foundation.
by Joseph Ng’ang’a
