On Thursday, President William Ruto launched the National Equipment Service Project (NESP) marking a significant step in Kenya’s journey toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
This seven-year initiative aims to modernise healthcare infrastructure across the country, equipping both national and county health facilities with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment technologies.
The project is meant to address the inefficiencies that arose from the Managed Equipment Services (MES) initiative by the previous administration, which was lease based and ended up being expensive on the County Governments.
MES required significant upfront capital and lacked clear service-level agreements, leading to frequent downtimes and compromised care.
What is the National Equipment Service Project
The NESP is designed to overhaul Kenya’s medical equipment supply system, moving away from the inefficiencies of the past.
It introduces a fee-for-service model where private sector partners handle the procurement, installation, maintenance, and servicing of advanced medical equipment, such as CT scanners, digital X-rays, ultrasound machines, dialysis units, and laboratory systems, without requiring upfront payments from national or county governments.
The vendors and suppliers will only be paid for services delivered meaning that they will earn only when patients use the equipment. This is different from MES where Counties had to pay a fixed amount whether the equipment was used or not.
This cost-effective approach eliminates the financial burden on public health facilities and ensures continuous equipment availability through clear service-level agreements.
“The NES marks a clear departure from the traditional, fragmented and costly equipment leasing model. Instead, we are adopting a smart, integrated and cost-effective system that fosters sustainability, local capacity building and value for money,” Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said.
Since its pilot phase began in June 2025, the project has already delivered over 60,000 medical services across 29 facilities in 18 counties.
The launch saw the release of 14 CT scanners, 2 ultrasound machines, 30 dialysis machines, and digital X-ray systems, with plans to deploy an additional 58 digital X-rays, 65 ultrasound machines, 19 CT scanners, 100 theatre equipment, and 100 laboratory systems within the next two months.
President Ruto emphasised that this is just the beginning, with a long-term vision to equip every public health facility nationwide, ensuring no Kenyan is denied care due to equipment shortages.
A Shift from the Medical Equipment Scheme (MES)
The NESP marks a departure from the Medical Equipment Scheme (MES) introduced by the previous administration under former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
While the MES aimed to provide medical equipment to public hospitals, it relied heavily on significant upfront capital investments and lacked robust maintenance frameworks, leading to frequent downtimes and compromised care.
A 2019 World Bank report highlighted that equipment underutilisation in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, was a persistent issue due to inadequate servicing and unclear accountability mechanisms – challenges that plagued the MES.
In contrast, the NESP leverages bulk procurement and a centralised payment system, eliminating the need for counties to budget for equipment.
President Ruto noted that the MES’s fragmented approach and absence of service-level agreements were key lessons informing the NESP’s design.
The new project’s fee-for-service model shifts the financial and maintenance responsibilities to private partners, fostering sustainability and accountability.
This innovative structure also builds local capacity through training and ensures equipment is tailored to Kenya’s healthcare needs, addressing the MES’s shortcomings.
The NESP is a cornerstone of Kenya’s UHC agenda, supported by legislative reforms signed into law in 2023, including the Social Health Insurance Act, Primary Healthcare Act, Digital Health Act, and Facility Improvement Financing Act.
The recently passed Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety Bill, 2025, further strengthens this framework by introducing strict licensing and a new authority to enforce patient safety.
The Social Health Authority (SHA) has already registered 25.2 million Kenyans and contracted over 11,000 healthcare providers, disbursing Sh56.4 billion since October 2024 to enhance service delivery.
President Ruto highlighted the project’s role in digitising healthcare, which not only improves access but also combats fraud through a secure, intelligent system.
He warned potential fraudsters that the digital infrastructure is flagging suspicious activities, with investigations underway to ensure accountability.
Collaboration and Challenges Ahead
The NESP’s success hinges on collaboration between national and county governments, with 45 counties having signed the Intergovernmental Participatory Agreement (IPA).
However, the initiative has sparked debate due to health being a devolved function under the 2010 Constitution.
Critics question the national government’s role in implementation, citing past corruption scandals, such as the 2016 Sh5.2 billion medical equipment procurement controversy.
The NESP’s transparent governance and private sector involvement aim to mitigate these risks, but vigilance will be key.
President Ruto called on governors, health officials, and frontline workers to own the project, ensuring prompt installation, effective use, and continuous maintenance.
As Kenya builds this comprehensive healthcare backbone, the NESP promises to transform lives, particularly in underserved regions, by making high-quality care a right, not a privilege.
Sunview Medipro International has officially launched Phase 1 of a large-scale installation of advanced medical equipment across public health facilities at the national, county, and sub-county levels in Kenya.
This will see the deployment of an initial 98 Diagnostic Imaging CT Scan Machines (2 per county), 2 Diagnostic Imaging Mammogram Machines, 400 Operating Theatres, and 400 Laboratories across the country.
“Our integrated approach ensures that healthcare providers receive seamless support throughout the entire process,” said Sirat Amin, CEO of Sunview Medipro, during the flag-off ceremony at the company’s Nairobi headquarters.
He emphasised that the program is not just about equipment delivery, but also includes installation, setup, comprehensive training, maintenance, spare parts, consumables, and continuous consultation to ensure uninterrupted and high-quality healthcare delivery.
According to James Kamau, Principal Supply Chain Officer at the Council of Governors, the first phase will prioritise Level 5 and key referral hospitals.
“With the FFS model in place, public health facilities can now deliver high-end medical services without heavy capital costs. This will save counties millions in maintenance costs, which can be reallocated to hire more health workers and procure essential medical supplies,” he said.
Health Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga praised the initiative saying; “Equipping our health facilities with the right tools is a cornerstone of effective care. This is how we build a responsive, resilient health system.”
