Universal health coverage has been a top priority in Kenya since 2018, positioning it as pivotal to the country’s socioeconomic agenda. With over 55 million citizens relying on its healthcare system, Kenya has emphasized primary health care as essential for achieving universal coverage. Notably, Kenya allocates up to 57% of its healthcare budget to bolstering primary services.

In 2019, Kenya introduced a strategic framework aligned with its overarching Health Policy (2014-2030) and universal coverage roadmap. This framework offers guidance for effective nationwide primary care, aiming to ensure all Kenyans can access quality primary services. The plan centers on developing a network of community and primary care facilities, collectively called primary care networks (PCNs).

Since announcing this framework, Kenya has progressed steadily in actualizing the PCN vision. However, COVID-19 deepened pre-existing healthcare disparities, underscoring the urgent need for equitable access to quality care. Consequently, Kenya launched a pilot initiative to implement PCNs as outlined in the strategic guidelines. The pilot primarily aims to demonstrate PCN efficacy and inform broader PCN adoption across Kenya.

Like many nations, Kenya is dedicated to enhancing primary health and care networks. Still, there is a need to create opportunities for stakeholders to share practical knowledge and experiences about effective PCN implementation and scale-up. By facilitating this cross-learning, Kenya can work towards achieving its healthcare goals.