Kenya is taking a major step to enhance its emergency response capacity by developing Africa’s second military emergency medical team. The Kenya Defence Forces, the Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organization (WHO) convened a two-day Governance Orientation Workshop to advance the creation of the country’s first Type 2 emergency medical team, a specialized unit capable of providing advanced medical care during disasters and disease outbreaks.
The initiative comes amid a pressing need for rapid medical response in Kenya. In 2024, flooding during the long rains affected over 300,000 people and caused more than 200 deaths, while other disasters—including the Mai Mahiu dam collapse, the Embakasi gas explosion, and a school fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy—claimed dozens of lives. At the same time, outbreaks of mpox and cholera further strained health services, highlighting the critical need for a dedicated, deployable medical team.
Emergency medical teams are mobile, self-sufficient units that deliver clinical care when local health systems are overwhelmed. Type 2 teams provide full inpatient care, including surgical services, and can become operational within 48 hours of an emergency. This rapid deployment ensures that patients receive timely treatment before local facilities are overrun, improving outcomes and saving lives.
The workshop followed a milestone in November 2024, when 30 military health professionals completed a WHO-supported emergency medical team induction training—the first of its kind in Kenya. The governance workshop focused on clarifying leadership roles, reviewing global standards, and drawing lessons from Senegal and Uganda on moving teams from design to deployment.
WHO officials, including Acting Representative Dr. Neema Kimambo, emphasized that Kenya’s initiative represents a significant advancement in national emergency preparedness, covering surgical care, mental health support, and a broad spectrum of emergencies. Kenya’s Defence Forces leadership stressed that having a fully operational emergency medical team is crucial not only for national health security but also for regional support within the East African Community.
By the end of the workshop, a formal governance structure and a time-bound roadmap were established, assigning clear responsibilities and accountability across all partner organizations. The roadmap outlines priority actions and timelines to guide Kenya toward achieving formal WHO classification, ensuring that the country is prepared to respond efficiently to future disasters and health emergencies.
