Kenya will next month launch its first National Ambulance Dispatch Centre in a major step toward improving emergency medical response and saving lives during accidents, disasters and other critical incidents, president William Ruto has announced.
Speaking on Sunday during the 95th St John Ambulance annual parade and inspection ceremony at State House, Nairobi, Ruto said the centre will coordinate ambulance services across the country through a national digital platform.
The president said the facility will be integrated into Kenya’s digital health infrastructure to enable real-time deployment of ambulances, faster coordination and improved emergency response.
Once fully operational, the system is expected to coordinate at least 100,000 emergency evacuations every year.
Ruto said Kenyans requiring emergency evacuation services through the dispatch centre will receive the service free of charge.
He said the initiative will make Kenya the second country in Africa to establish a nationally coordinated ambulance dispatch system, describing it as a milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen emergency medical services.
The announcement comes amid concern over the high number of road deaths in Kenya. The president said more than 5,000 Kenyans died in road accidents last year, adding that many lives could have been saved if emergency help had arrived earlier.
“Many could have been saved if help had arrived sooner, or if a trained responder had been nearby during the first few critical minutes after the accident,” he said.
Ruto commended St John Ambulance Kenya for its contribution to emergency response, first aid training and public safety, describing the organisation as a strategic national partner in safeguarding lives.
He said the government will continue working with St John Ambulance Kenya and the Ministry of Health to strengthen emergency response systems across the country.
In 2025, St John Ambulance Kenya trained more than 254,000 Kenyans in first aid and emergency preparedness. The organisation also supported road users through its Highway Emergency Response Project.
The president also highlighted the organization’s maternal health interventions through the ‘Mama na Mwana’ programme in Kajiado county, saying such initiatives were critical in protecting mothers and newborns.
He said the Government had equipped 635 hospitals across the country to improve maternal and newborn healthcare.
“We must ensure that no child dies and every mother gets an opportunity to safely bring forth life,” he said.
Ruto said the Government remains committed to universal healthcare through the Social Health Authority, the ‘Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere’ programme, Community Health Promoters and implementation of the National Disaster Risk Management Act.
He said the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund under SHA had also been strengthened to support emergency treatment. Under the fund, the government pays for emergency treatment for all Kenyans for the first 24 hours, even if they are not registered with SHA.
To support St John Ambulance Kenya, the President said the Government had allocated the organisation land in Nairobi for construction of a modern headquarters.
Ruto also directed the Ministry of Health to buy 15 ambulances for St John Ambulance Kenya and register them under SHA.
He further instructed Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to engage parliament on reviewing the law governing St John Ambulance Kenya to enable the government provide the organisation with an annual budget of Sh100 million.
The president endorsed St John Ambulance Kenya’s goal of ensuring every household has at least one trained first aider, saying the country would be safer if more citizens were prepared to respond during emergencies.
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