AI-Powered Health Revolution Transforms Care in Uasin Gishu

Residents of Uasin Gishu County are beginning to experience significant improvements in healthcare delivery following the rollout of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and upgraded digital health systems aimed at boosting diagnostics and emergency response.

The county government has invested KSh 52 million in four AI-powered digital X-ray machines, deployed in partnership with the National TB Programme. Each machine, valued at KSh 13 million, is already reshaping how chest-related diseases—particularly tuberculosis (TB)—are detected and managed.

Since their launch in December 2025, the machines have enabled more than 2,600 X-ray screenings, dramatically increasing diagnostic capacity. Their battery-powered and mobile design has allowed healthcare workers to extend services beyond traditional hospital settings into informal settlements and busy transport hubs, improving access for high-risk populations.

Health officials estimate that AI-assisted imaging could reduce reliance on GeneXpert testing by up to 70 percent across five centres, helping to streamline diagnosis and speed up treatment. The technology is also enhancing early detection of TB, lung cancer, and other respiratory illnesses that often remain undiagnosed until advanced stages.

The initiative comes at a critical time for Kenya, which recorded more than 90,000 cases of drug-sensitive TB in 2025 and remains among the world’s 33 high-burden countries. In Uasin Gishu alone, over 1,700 TB cases were reported, with nearly 40 percent believed to go undiagnosed due to mild or hidden symptoms.

The AI-powered machines have been strategically placed at key health facilities, including Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Huruma Sub-County Hospital, Moi’s Bridge Health Centre, and Uasin Gishu County Hospital, ensuring wider coverage across the region.

In addition to improved diagnostics, the county has strengthened emergency healthcare through the establishment of a Public Health Emergency and Ambulance Dispatch Centre, supported by the Medicine Kenya Foundation. The centre integrates real-time ambulance tracking with a centralized dispatch system, enabling quicker and more coordinated responses to emergencies.

Officials say the new system is expected to significantly cut response times, potentially saving lives in critical situations.

The initiatives were unveiled by Deputy Governor Evans Kapkea on behalf of Governor Jonathan Bii, signaling a shift toward a more technology-driven and responsive healthcare system.

“Health is the greatest wealth a society can possess,” Kapkea said, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to improving service delivery.

County officials, including Health Executive Janet Kurgat and ICT Executive Robert Kemei, emphasized that innovation will play a central role in transforming healthcare access and outcomes.

Looking ahead, the county is constructing a modern Diagnostic Centre at Uasin Gishu District Hospital, a move expected to further expand access to specialized services and sustain the momentum of ongoing health reforms.