Nairobi, July 10- Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale has announced that by October 2025, Kenyans will be able to summon government ambulances using a new mobile app, similar to ride-hailing platforms like Uber.
The app will enable users to locate and request the nearest available ambulance, which will then transport patients to hospital at no cost in emergency situations.
In a televised interview on July 9, Duale explained that the new system is part of President William Ruto’s broader healthcare reform agenda aimed at transforming access to emergency medical services across the country.
“We’re rolling out an advanced ambulance system where Kenyans can simply open an app, find the closest ambulance, and get free emergency transport to hospital,” Duale said. “It works just like Uber except it’s for saving lives, and it’s fully funded by public resources.”
The initiative will be supported by the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, a government-backed scheme already approved by the National Assembly in the current budget.
According to Duale, this innovation is intended to ease the burden on ordinary Kenyans who might otherwise struggle to afford private ambulance services. “Imagine collapsing from a stroke in the middle of Nairobi this system ensures you’ll be picked up and treated immediately, with no cost to you,” he added.
The Health CS emphasized that the new ambulance app will make emergency care more efficient and accessible, especially in critical cases where time and affordability are often the biggest obstacles.
