Kenya has stepped up its push to eliminate malaria as a public health threat following the launch of the Kenya Malaria Strategy 2023–2027, which coincided with the global observance of World Malaria Day.
Aligned with the national Zero Malaria campaign, the strategy outlines a comprehensive framework to reduce infections and ultimately eradicate the disease. It places strong emphasis on protecting vulnerable populations while preserving the gains made over the years.
Speaking in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County, during the World Malaria Day commemoration, Mary Muthoni noted that the country has recorded significant progress in the fight against malaria, with prevalence rates declining in recent years.
She highlighted that malaria prevalence has dropped from 8 per cent to 6 per cent, crediting sustained interventions such as vector control measures, large-scale distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and improved access to testing and treatment services.
“Kenya has reached a critical milestone in reducing the malaria burden through coordinated and deliberate action. The next phase requires a stronger focus on elimination through enhanced prevention and early response,” she said.
The Principal Secretary further revealed that the government has distributed over 14.6 million long-lasting insecticidal nets and expanded indoor residual spraying across endemic regions, contributing to reduced transmission.
Despite these gains, she cautioned that malaria remains a major challenge in high-burden areas, particularly in western Kenya and the coastal region, where environmental and climatic conditions continue to favour mosquito breeding.
She stressed the importance of targeted interventions in these regions, alongside the adoption of innovative approaches to strengthen surveillance and response systems. Integrating digital technologies into malaria programmes, she added, will enhance data collection, monitoring, and timely outbreak response.
“Leveraging data effectively will allow for early detection of cases and more efficient allocation of resources to high-need areas,” she noted.
The strategy is built on four key pillars: advancing health equity; fostering innovation, including vaccine deployment; increasing domestic funding; and incorporating digital solutions into malaria control efforts.
Muthoni also emphasised the critical role of community engagement through community health promoters, noting that grassroots participation is key to prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment.
“Community health promoters are at the heart of this effort. Empowering them ensures we reach households directly and leave no case undetected,” she added.