“Uber-like App”: How Kenyans Will Access Ambulances Free of Charge from October

In a bold move set to revolutionize Kenya’s emergency health response, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced that Kenyans will soon be able to hail ambulances through a mobile app — just like booking a ride on Uber.

Speaking during an interview on JKL Live on Wednesday, July 9, Duale revealed that the new ambulance system is expected to be fully operational by October 2025.

This initiative will allow citizens to locate and request the nearest available ambulance through a government-run digital platform, a move aimed at streamlining emergency response times and improving access to life-saving care.

“The health care ambulance that we are introducing, by the way, we are introducing a very good ambulance system where, by October, Kenyans will use it like the app of calling an Uber. You check in our system, the ambulance near you, you call it, it takes you to the hospital free of charge — paid by the people of Kenya,” Duale stated passionately.

The rollout will be powered by the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, a government-backed initiative that has already been approved and budgeted for by the National Assembly. According to Duale, this fund will cover the entire cost of ambulance transportation and hospital care for individuals facing critical health emergencies.

“Today, if you are walking the streets of Nairobi and you get a stroke, you will be picked up by any ambulance, you will be taken to any hospital, you will be treated free of charge, paid by the government — the government of William Ruto,” he emphasized.

The system is part of a larger package of health reforms championed by President William Ruto, which seek to offer equitable, affordable, and accessible healthcare to all Kenyans, especially during life-threatening situations.

If successfully implemented, the Uber-style ambulance app could dramatically reduce delays in emergency response and ensure faster access to treatment, especially in rural and underserved areas.

Aden Duale is a well-known Kenyan leader who has worked in many top government jobs. He was first elected as a Member of Parliament in 2007. In 2013, he became the first Majority Leader in Kenya’s Parliament, where he helped pass many important laws. Over time, he served as Cabinet Secretary for Defence, Environment, and now Health.