Gov't launches 922 emergency response system with free ambulance services

Kenyans can now access emergency medical services around the clock by dialling 922, following the launch of the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre by President William Ruto.

The new digital command centre, housed at the Social Health Authority (SHA), links more than 600 accredited public and private ambulances, including those operated by county governments, the Kenya Red Cross and St John Ambulance, into a single nationwide emergency response system.

The government says the platform is designed to improve coordination of emergency medical services and disaster response across all 47 counties.

SHA Chief Executive Officer Dr Mercy Mwangangi said the dispatch centre will coordinate ambulance deployment to ensure patients receive timely emergency care.

When a caller dials 922, trained medical dispatchers will assess the emergency, identify the nearest available ambulance using GPS technology and direct it to the health facility best equipped to handle the patient's condition based on real-time bed capacity and specialised services.

President Ruto said ambulance evacuation and the first 24 hours of emergency treatment will be free for all Kenyans, regardless of whether they are registered under the Social Health Authority.

"Ambulance evacuation and the first 24 hours of emergency treatment will be fully paid for through the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund at approved tariffs. This protection applies whether the patient is registered with SHA or not. In an emergency, the first question must never be whether a patient can pay—the first duty is to save lives. No deposit, no guarantee, no negotiations," he said.

The government says the service will cover life-threatening emergencies, including severe road traffic injuries, heart attacks, strokes, severe respiratory distress, acute poisoning and critical obstetric emergencies.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the integrated command centre eliminates fragmentation in emergency response by bringing together ambulance services from across the country.

"The National Ambulance Dispatch Centre is the central command hub for all 47 counties. By integrating over 200 fully accredited KMPDC ambulances alongside county and private partners, we have eliminated regional silos. Whether a critical incident happens in Nairobi or a remote village, 922 ensures a rapid, standardised response," Duale added.

The government says the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund will fully cover ambulance transport and stabilisation during the first 24 hours before patients transition to other applicable healthcare financing arrangements.