Also known as: Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni · Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni · Ms Muthoni · Mary Muthoni Muriuki · PS Mary Muthoni · Public Health PS Mary Muthoni · Muriuki · Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni
Public Health Principal Secretary leading healthcare reforms including Social Health Authority rollout, antimicrobial resistance prevention, and counterfeit product seizures.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Capital News
… The high-level session drew senior policymakers and global health leaders, including Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, alongside ministers from across the continent. …
Kenya to Host Eastern Africa Health Security Hub Under New Africa CDC DealCapital News
… Speaking in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County, during the commemoration, Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said Kenya has recorded significant progress in malaria control, with prevalence dropping from 8 percent to 6 percent in recent years. …
Kenya Intensifies Malaria Fight as New Strategy Targets Elimination by 2027Only six out of ten babies born in Kenya are breastfed within the first hour of life despite nearly nine in ten deliveries occurring under skilled health workers, experts warn. Early breastfeeding provides colostrum, a nutrient-rich first milk that protects newborns against life-threatening infections when the risk of death is highest.
3 August 2026 · The Standard →
Only six out of ten babies born in Kenya are breastfed within the first hour of life despite nearly nine in ten deliveries occurring under skilled health workers, experts warn. Early breastfeeding provides colostrum, a nutrient-rich first milk that protects newborns against life-threatening infections when the risk of death is highest.
3 August 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya and 10 regional countries will sign a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cross-border disease surveillance, data sharing, and coordinated responses to disease outbreaks. The agreement aims to facilitate real-time surveillance, harmonise health measures at border points, and improve joint resource mobilisation during health emergencies.
31 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has encouraged young people to avoid being used for divisive politics and instead take advantage of government empowerment programmes such as the Hustler Fund, Nyota Fund and Micro and Small Enterprises programmes to start and grow businesses.
26 July 2026 · Capital News →
President William Ruto announced that the Government will begin paying medical insurance for all 107,000 Community Health Promoters under the Social Health Authority this month. The National Government will provide 390 million shillings, with counties expected to contribute a similar amount.
25 July 2026 · Capital News →
A study by the Kenya Organic Agriculture Network, University of Nairobi, and SGS Kenya Laboratories found detectable pesticide residues in most vegetable samples from Nairobi and Nakuru markets, particularly in kale and spinach. The Ministry of Health plans to strengthen surveillance and testing of fresh produce across the country, while noting that the presence of detectable residues does not pose immediate health danger, though long-term cumulative exposure is a concern.
25 July 2026 · The Standard →
The Ministry of Health has intensified preparations for the Kenya Health Summit 2026, bringing together health sector agencies and government institutions to forge a unified roadmap for accelerating healthcare reforms. The summit, scheduled for August 18-19, 2026 in Nairobi, will assess progress on health reforms, identify challenges, and agree on priority actions to improve healthcare delivery.
24 July 2026 · Capital News →
A multi-agency team led by Public Health PS Mary Muthoni seized more than 17,000 packets of suspected counterfeit cigarettes during an operation in Thika, Kiambu County. Authorities expressed concern about illicit tobacco products allegedly being smuggled into Kenya through neighbouring countries, and said the seized products will be destroyed if laboratory tests confirm they are counterfeit.
21 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni warned schools that drugs are being smuggled to learning institutions hidden in biro pens and disguised as perfumes, urging parents, teachers, and school administrators to conduct thorough inspections and remain vigilant.
14 July 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's government will strengthen healthcare services in schools through the Social Health Authority (SHA) programme and intensify efforts to combat drug abuse among learners, according to Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni. The Ministry of Health is working with the Ministry of Education to integrate health facilities serving schools into the SHA system, enabling students to access timely treatment and preventive healthcare.
11 July 2026 · Capital News →
The Ministry of Health has launched a three-day Community Health Assessment Data Verification exercise in Ol Kalou Sub-County, Nyandarua County, to strengthen community health systems and improve data-driven planning for primary healthcare and Universal Health Coverage. The exercise brings together Community Health Promoters to validate community health data, assess implementation of community-based health interventions, and identify gaps in service delivery.
7 July 2026 · Capital News →
Public Health PS Mary Muthoni has urged Kenyans to stop self-medicating with antibiotics, warning that misuse is accelerating antimicrobial resistance and threatening the country's ability to treat common infections. She called on citizens to only use antibiotics when prescribed by qualified healthcare professionals.
5 July 2026 · Capital News →
Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni launched the Women in Healthcare Kenya Caucus in Nairobi and challenged female health workers to apply for government-funded scholarships for advanced training, noting that most applicants for professional development funding are men.
4 July 2026 · Capital News →
Farmers in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County, say monkeys from Njukiini Forest are destroying crops including avocados, macadamia nuts and maize, invading homes, and becoming increasingly aggressive toward residents attempting to protect their property.
2 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The Ministry of Health is collecting public views on proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Act of 2007 to address emerging nicotine products not covered under current legislation, as manufacturers increasingly target young people through deceptive packaging and marketing strategies.
28 June 2026 · Capital News →
Public Health PS Mary Muthoni has urged Kenyans to register for the Social Health Authority, saying it offers inclusive benefits regardless of employment status, unlike the defunct NHIF. She blamed local politics and misinformation for low uptake, noting that only 39 per cent of Kitui County residents have enrolled.
28 June 2026 · The Standard →
The government will deploy 6,360 healthcare interns across the country starting July 1, having committed Sh 9.3 billion towards the programme to strengthen Kenya's health workforce and advance Universal Health Coverage. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the plans after meeting with health professional regulatory bodies to assess readiness for the 2026/2027 deployment.
26 June 2026 · Capital News →
Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has asked the High Court to pardon him after being found guilty of contempt for establishing an Ebola quarantine facility at Nanyuki airbase despite two court orders halting the process. Duale's legal team argued that his actions were driven by public health concerns regarding risks posed by soldiers returning from a UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
23 June 2026 · The Standard →
President Ruto announced that Kenya will launch its first National Ambulance Dispatch Centre next month, making it the second African country with a nationally coordinated ambulance dispatch system. The centre will coordinate ambulance services through a digital platform integrated into national health infrastructure and is expected to handle 100,000 emergency evacuations annually.
21 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya remains at high risk of importing the Budibugyo Ebola virus currently affecting parts of the DRC and Uganda, which have recorded 141 deaths. The Ministry of Health has confirmed no cases in Kenya but emphasized strict vigilance and has deployed containment systems including a standby surge team of over 300 healthcare officers across 25 high-risk counties.
16 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni defended the Social Health Authority's healthcare model as expanding access compared to the defunct NHIF, saying 20 percent benefited under NHIF versus immediate eligibility under SHA. She urged leaders to stop politicizing health matters and praised Community Health Promoters for supporting SHA rollout through registration and preventive services.
14 June 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya has recorded no confirmed Ebola cases despite heightened surveillance, according to the Public Health Principal Secretary. The government has tested about 90 samples, all negative, and intensified screening at major entry points including JKIA and six gazetted border crossings.
14 June 2026 · The Standard →
Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale stated the government will comply with a court order temporarily halting the establishment of an Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, but warned he may invoke Public Health Act powers to enforce stricter measures if a positive case is confirmed in Kenya.
12 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki says the government is alert and ready to handle any reported Ebola case, with adequate resources allocated for surveillance at entry points, isolation centres, equipment, and personnel training. He warned against politicization of preventive measures.
9 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya is intensifying Ebola preparedness measures by establishing fully operational quarantine centres in high-risk areas and heightening surveillance at the Malaba Border following reported cases in Uganda. The Ministry of Health has equipped border health teams with screening equipment and enhanced laboratory capacity in Nairobi and Kisumu for rapid testing and diagnosis.
6 June 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya's Ministry of Health dismissed reports of a suspected Ebola case involving a Turkish national admitted to a Kenyan health facility. Laboratory tests confirmed the patient tested negative for Ebola virus, and the Ministry said it remains on high alert regarding the regional public health situation.
3 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Tea farmers in Kirinyaga have raised concerns over a proposed levy by the Tea Board of Kenya, saying it will cut their earnings and increase their burden. They are calling on the government to allow them to export tea directly from Sagana instead of through Mombasa.
3 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The Ministry of Health ruled out an Ebola case after a Turkish national presenting with Ebola-like symptoms tested negative at AAR Hospital in Kiambu. Laboratory tests on 18 samples from Ebola alerts across several counties have all tested negative.
3 June 2026 · The Standard →
The Ministry of Health says Kenya is considering imposing a mandatory 21-day quarantine for travellers arriving from high-risk countries as part of enhanced Ebola prevention measures. Incoming travellers may also be required to present certified exit surveillance reports from their countries of origin alongside detailed screening documentation.
2 June 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya's Ministry of Health has designated 25 counties as either 'very high risk' or 'high risk' for Ebola, including Nairobi, Mombasa, and border counties, amid outbreaks in neighbouring Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The government is maintaining high alert at 26 points of entry and monitoring 10 neighbouring countries, though no positive cases have been reported in Kenya.
2 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Anti-riot police clashed with hundreds of protesters in Nanyuki on Monday during demonstrations against a proposed Ebola quarantine and isolation facility at Laikipia Airbase, firing tear gas and warning shots to disperse crowds as confrontations escalated from initially peaceful marches.
1 June 2026 · Capital News →