Kenya

The Kenya country profile provides an overview of the community health system in Kenya according to the most up-to-date policies available. It particularly focuses on the country’s community health providers, the structures that support them, and the services they deliver across many health areas – with a spotlight on family planning. The profile is targeted towards policymakers, program implementers, donors, researchers, and others interested in the country’s community health system.

The table below captures key information from the full, downloadable country profile. The complete CHS Catalog data set is also available for download, including information for Kenya.

Community Health Quick Stats

Main Community Health Policy / Strategy | Last Updated
  • Kenya Health Sector Strategic and Investment Plan, July 2013–June 2017 | 2012
  • Strategy for Community Health 2014–2019 | 2014
  • Kenya Health Policy 2014–2030 | 2014
Number of Community Health Provider Cadres

2 main cadres

  • Community health extension worker (CHEW)
  • Community health volunteer (CHV)
Recommended Number of Community Health Providers
  • Information not available
  • Policy recommends a range between 120,886 and 250,0201
Estimated Number of Community Health Providers
  • 1,165 CHEWs2
  • 18,038 CHVs2
Recommended Ratio of Community Health Providers to Beneficiaries
  • 2 CHEWs : 1 community unit3 or approximately 5,000 people
  • 20 CHVs : 1 community unit or approximately 5,000 people
Community-Level Data Collection Yes
Levels of Management of Community-Level Service Delivery

National, county, sub-county, community
Key Community Health Program(s)

Programs are implemented at the county level, and therefore differ

1 Policy differs on the recommended number of CHVs. The Kenya Health Sector Strategic and Investment Plan (2012) recommends 250,020, while the Health Sector Human Resources Strategy (2014) recommends 120,886.
2 As of 2011.
3 The recommended ratio may increase to 5 CHEWs to 1 community unit in future policies.

Key Policies and Strategies

Ministry of Health, Division of Community Health Services. 2013a. Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) Basic Modules Handbook (accessed June 2017).

———. 2013b. Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) Integrated Curriculum (accessed June 2017).

———. 2013c. Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) Module 7: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (accessed June 2017).

———. 2013d. Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) Module 8: Community Nutrition (accessed June 2017).

———. 2013e. Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) Module 9: Integrated Community Case Management (ICCM).

———. 2013f. Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) Module 10: Maternal and Newborn Health.

———. 2013g. Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) Module 11: Family Planning (accessed June 2017).

———. 2013h. Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) Module 12: HIV, TB and Malaria.

Ministry of Health, Division of Community Health Services, Division of Non-Communicable Diseases. 2015. Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) Module 13: Non-Communicable Diseases (accessed June 2017).

Ministry of Health, Republic of Kenya. 2007. Linking Communities with the Health System: The Kenya Essential Package for Health at Level 1: A Manual for Training Community Health Extension Workers. Nairobi: Ministry of Health, Sector Planning and Monitoring Department (accessed June 2017).

———. 2012. Kenya Health Sector Strategic and Investment Plan July 2013 - June 2017. Nairobi: Ministry of Health (accessed June 2017).

———. 2013. A National Framework and Plan of Action for Implementation of Integrated Community Case Management (ICCM) in Kenya 2013 – 2018 (accessed June 2017).

———. 2014a. Health Sector Human Resources Strategy 2014-2018. Nairobi: Ministry of Health (accessed June 2017).

———. 2014b. Kenya Health Policy 2014–2030. Nairobi: Ministry of Health (accessed June 2017).

———. 2014c. Strategy for Community Health 2014-2019. Nairobi: Ministry of Health, Community Health Unit (accessed June 2017).

———. 2016. Kenya Essential Medicines List 2016. Nairobi: Ministry of Health (accessed June 2017).

Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Division of Community Health Services. n.d. Training Community Health Committees in Kenya: The Handbook for Community Health Committees.

Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Division of Reproductive Health. 2010. National Family Planning Guidelines for Service Providers. Nairobi: Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Division of Reproductive Health (accessed June 2017).

Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Office of the Director. 2011. Provision of Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA Injectable Contraceptive) by Trained Community Health Workers (CHWs).

Republic of Kenya, Public Service Commission, Directorate of Public Service Management. 2013. Scheme of Service for Community Health Services Personnel (accessed June 2017).