Aden Duale calls for tighter regulation of clinical officer training programmes
By Kiprono Keileb, March 11, 2026The government has renewed its focus on strengthening oversight in the health sector, particularly the training and professional conduct of clinical officers nationwide. The Ministry of Health said new leadership at the Clinical Officers Council will play a key role in improving standards and protecting patients.
In a statement shared on X on Wednesday, March 3, 2026, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale presided over the inauguration of the newly appointed Board of the Clinical Officers Council at Afya House, a move aimed at reinforcing regulation within the profession.
“Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale today inaugurated the newly appointed Board of the Clinical Officers Council (COC), led by Chairperson Joseph Choge, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to strengthening regulation of clinical training and practice in Kenya,” the statement reads.
During the event, Duale raised concerns over the growing number of institutions offering clinical officer training programmes without adequate oversight or coordination with national workforce needs.
“Speaking during the inauguration at Afya House, Duale cautioned against the unregulated expansion of clinical officer training programmes, stressing that oversight must align with the country’s health workforce needs and epidemiological priorities,” the statement reads.
The Health CS reminded the new board that the council carries a legal responsibility to regulate training, licensing, and professional conduct in order to maintain trust in the health system.
“The CS noted that the Council has a critical statutory mandate to regulate the training, registration, licensing, and professional conduct of Clinical Officers, adding that effective regulation is essential to maintaining high standards of care and protecting patient safety,” the statement reads.
Duale also linked the strengthening of professional oversight to the government’s broader development plans, saying the health workforce remains central to achieving national healthcare goals.
“Duale said strengthening oversight of the health workforce is central to the Government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and the realisation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which depends on a competent, disciplined, and well-regulated workforce,” the statement reads.
The CS further encouraged collaboration among professional regulatory bodies to ensure better coordination and clear professional boundaries in the health sector.
“He also called for closer collaboration between the Clinical Officers Council, the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK), and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) to harmonise scopes of practice and improve coordination across regulatory bodies,” the statement reads.
In addition, Duale urged the council to work closely with emerging health institutions that are supporting digital transformation and financing of healthcare services.
“The CS further urged the Council to work closely with the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the Digital Health Agency (DHA) to strengthen the quality of care and support the integration of health data systems,” the statement reads.
The Health CS concluded by warning that professional misconduct in the health sector would not be tolerated and called for firm disciplinary action where necessary.
“On professional accountability, Duale warned that negligence, fraud, or actions that endanger patients will not be tolerated, urging the Board to strengthen disciplinary mechanisms and safeguard the integrity of the Clinical Officer profession,” the statement reads.