Kenya unveils centralized 922 emergency ambulance network across 47 counties

KENYA—Kenya has launched the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre, the country’s first centralised emergency medical dispatch platform designed to coordinate ambulance services across all 47 counties.

President William Samoei Ruto officially launched the Centre at the Social Health Authority (SHA) headquarters in Nairobi on August 5, 2026, alongside Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and national and county leaders.

Centralised emergency response

The Centre operates through the SHA 922 Lifeline and will coordinate ambulance deployment, emergency communications, patient referrals and links between emergency responders and health facilities.

The platform is intended to help patients reach appropriate care faster by bringing emergency dispatch operations under a single national system.

Its technology includes emergency call management and clinical triage, enabling dispatch teams to assess calls and determine the appropriate response.

Ambulance crews can also use a point-of-care application to securely transmit patient information while transporting patients.

In addition, a real-time incident management system linked to the National Health Information Exchange allows receiving health facilities to access relevant patient information and prepare for incoming emergencies.

More than 200 ambulances accredited by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council have already joined the network, while additional public and private ambulance providers are expected to be integrated as coverage expands.

The Centre is staffed by 40 trained professionals, including doctors, medical officers, emergency dispatch officers and customer service personnel, who will support round-the-clock emergency coordination and digital dispatch operations.

Seven advanced ambulances deployed

During the launch, President Ruto also flagged off seven advanced ambulances equipped to provide emergency and critical care.

The vehicles were deployed to Nairobi, Wajir, Turkana, Lamu, Mandera, Nyeri and Kapenguria to strengthen emergency response capacity in the selected areas.

The government developed the dispatch centre in collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross Society, ambulance service providers and telecommunications company Safaricom.

The initiative forms part of efforts under the Taifa Care programme to strengthen emergency, critical and operative care services.

Centre inspected ahead of launch

The launch followed an inspection visit by CS Duale to the facility on 4 August to assess its operational readiness.

The facility was completed ahead of its commissioning and is expected to serve as Kenya’s central command hub for emergency medical services.

During the inspection, Duale was hosted by SHA leadership led by Chief Executive Officer Mercy Mwangangi.

The launch brought together senior government officials, including Principal Secretaries Ouma Oluga, Mary Muthoni and John Tanui; Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth; Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja; Council of Governors Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi; and Health Committee Chairpersons Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir and James Nyikal.

Other attendees included Senate Standing Committee on Health Chairperson Jackson Mandago, Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary General Ahmed Idris, chief executives of national referral hospitals, development partners and other national and county representatives.