On 8th May 2025, a significant meeting took place between the Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, and the Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, Dr. Belio Kipsang, in Nairobi. The two leaders came together to discuss the implementation of the Presidential directive mandating that all non-Kenyans entering the country for a stay of less than twelve months must possess valid inbound travel health insurance.
This mandate is part of the broader vision to improve Kenya’s healthcare system and ensure that visitors do not burden the country’s public health resources. It is also seen as a step toward enhancing the country’s social health framework, a priority for the Ministry of Health under the leadership of Dr. Oluga.
The consultation was aimed at identifying practical steps and collaboration mechanisms between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Immigration and Citizen Services to make the policy a reality. Dr. Oluga and Dr. Kipsang’s conversation centered on how both departments can effectively manage the flow of international visitors while ensuring they comply with the new insurance requirements.
The Presidential directive is designed to address a significant gap in the healthcare system. Non-Kenyan visitors, particularly those staying for short durations, often do not have access to local health services, leaving them vulnerable to high medical costs in the event of illness or injury. The new policy aims to ensure that those coming into the country, whether for business, tourism, or other short-term purposes, have valid travel health insurance coverage that guarantees access to necessary healthcare services during their stay.
Dr. Kipsang emphasized the importance of seamless collaboration between the two ministries to ensure that the new requirement is implemented smoothly. The Ministry of Immigration plays a key role in processing and managing the entry of non-Kenyans, and ensuring that all incoming travelers are properly informed about the insurance requirement will be critical. This process will likely involve incorporating the health insurance verification into the visa or immigration clearance procedures, ensuring that visitors are fully compliant with the policy before they even arrive in Kenya.
Dr. Oluga, on the other hand, underscored the role of the Ministry of Health in providing the necessary regulatory framework and monitoring mechanisms to ensure that the health insurance policies offered to visitors meet the required standards. This would include ensuring that the insurance plans cover essential healthcare services such as emergency medical care, hospitalization, and other critical needs that a visitor might require while in Kenya.
The discussion also touched on the potential challenges that could arise during the implementation phase, particularly regarding the diverse range of insurance providers and the varying levels of coverage offered by different policies. Both parties acknowledged the importance of ensuring that visitors receive adequate coverage, and the Ministry of Health will work to provide clear guidelines to insurance providers to ensure that the policies meet the prescribed standards.
In addition to operational considerations, both Dr. Oluga and Dr. Kipsang recognized the importance of public awareness and education. Ensuring that international travelers are well-informed about the new policy and the importance of securing travel health insurance before entering Kenya will be a critical aspect of the roll-out. This could involve collaboration with airlines, embassies, and other stakeholders to disseminate the information widely and ensure that travelers understand the requirement well in advance.
The meeting also included a discussion on the implementation timeline. Both parties agreed that a phased approach may be necessary to allow time for stakeholders to adjust to the new policy. While the final timeline will depend on further consultations and preparations, there was a consensus that the policy should be enforced as soon as possible to ensure that Kenya’s healthcare system is not burdened by the influx of non-insured visitors.
Overall, the consultation was a productive step forward in operationalizing the Presidential directive. With continued collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Immigration, Kenya is poised to take a significant step toward improving its healthcare services for international visitors while also contributing to the sustainability of its healthcare system.
