Murang’a County has launched Kenya’s largest public digital healthcare programme, connecting 170 health facilities through Paratus Kenya’s Essential Access platform powered by Starlink satellite connectivity.
The launch is expected to improve healthcare access for nearly 1.2 million residents, most of them living in rural communities, and is considered one of the largest connected telemedicine programmes in Africa.
The system combines telemedicine and digital health reporting, allowing patients to access specialist consultations from nearby clinics while enabling Community Health Promoters to submit health data digitally from the field. The initiative is designed to improve patient care, disease monitoring, and service delivery across the county.
Residents are expected to benefit from quicker diagnosis, reduced travel costs, better referrals, and improved access to specialist healthcare services. Digital records can also be reviewed remotely, while lab results are uploaded directly into the system for faster feedback.
The initiative is part of Murang’a County’s broader healthcare transformation programme under Governor Dr. Irungu Kang’ata and supports Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage and digital healthcare agenda.
Governor Dr. Irungu Kang’ata commented, “This programme is improving access to healthcare by connecting facilities, empowering healthcare workers and ensuring communities can receive quality medical support closer to home. It is a major step forward in strengthening healthcare delivery across Murang’a.”
The telemedicine system is currently supporting hundreds of consultations daily through a central hub staffed by 15 doctors, with the capacity to serve between 450 and 600 patients each day. So far, 170 public health facilities are connected under the programme, with another 302 expected before year-end.
Paratus Kenya implemented the connectivity rollout following a successful pilot involving 35 health facilities in 2025.
Managing Director of Paratus Kenya, Joseph Kibwott, said, “Paratus Essential Services is designed to support the institutions that communities depend on every day. This project demonstrates how connectivity can help transform healthcare access and improve service delivery in underserved areas. It is literally a lifeline for rural communities.”
The official launch of the programme is taking place on 28 May 2026 at the county’s telemedicine hub and is expected to attract healthcare stakeholders and officials from countries including Nigeria and Ethiopia.
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