Health PS confirms closure of 728 facilities and downgrading of 301
By Mabonga Makhanu, August 26, 2025Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Ouma Oluga, has announced that more than 728 health facilities across the country have been closed, while an additional 301 have been downgraded.
Speaking during a local radio interview on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, the PS explained that the closed facilities are largely privately run, though several public facilities have also been affected. He added that the 301 downgraded facilities were mainly public institutions that had previously been elevated beyond their capacity through political influence.
Stating that you might find a facility that is Level 4 rendering services not as per its level
“So far we have closed down 728 facilities, which are mainly private facilities with some public facilities, and downgraded 301 facilities, which are mainly public facilities, because some of these facilities were being upgraded politically where someone goes to push, saying that this is a level 3, and because maybe the member of parliament is powerful, it’s pushed to level 4, and SHA pays as per the level it is, but when you look at the services it’s rendering, it’s not that of level 4,” Ouma stated.
How they are upgraded
According to the PS, the problem arises when certain facilities are pushed to higher levels than the services they actually provide, leading to mismatches in classification and funding by the Social Health Authority (SHA).
To correct this, the health ministry has engaged the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), which is the legally mandated regulator. Following inspections and evaluations, the regulator downgraded the affected facilities to their rightful levels.
“We talk to the regulator. Since SHA is not a regulator, the regulator is KMPDC. Then the regulator goes there and downgrades the facility. By doing so, 301 facilities have been downgraded,” he added.
The PS emphasised that the adjustments are meant to align facilities with the actual services they provide and ensure accountability in the sector.
This comes at a time when there is a crackdown on facilities, especially private ones, over exaggerated SHA claims, leading to the closure of many facilities. This has lead to a push and pull between the Rural Urban Private Hospitals Authority (RUPHA)