Kenya Cracks Down on Exploitative Healthcare Fees as It Launches Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan

By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter

Kenya, January 15 2026 - The government has sounded a stern warning to health facilities nationwide that government provided vaccines, including the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, must be administered free of charge, as it rolls out a bold new strategy to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.

Any facility found charging for free services will face legal consequences, the Health Cabinet Secretary said on Thursday. The directive comes amid the launch of the Kenya National Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan (2026–2030), which prioritises free HPV vaccination for girls aged 1014 years, expanded screening services, and guaranteed treatment for those diagnosed.

The plan was unveiled by the Ministry of Health in Nairobi during the peak of National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. “Government provided vaccines, including the HPV vaccine, must be administered free of charge,” Health CS Aden Duale declared, warning that public, private and faith based facilities must display a service charter showing which services are free to avoid misleading patients.

The move targets growing complaints from parents and guardians whose children were asked to pay for HPV jabs, despite them being part of the national immunisation schedule, raising concerns about exploitation and misinformation. Cervical cancer remains a significant public health threat in Kenya.

Health authorities estimate that the disease accounts for thousands of deaths each year, with recent countylevel data suggesting around 5,845 new cases and 3,591 deaths annually. Despite being highly preventable, less than a quarter of eligible girls are fully vaccinated against HPV, and fewer women receive regular screening to detect early, treatable stages of the disease. @American Cancer Society data show that Kenyan HPV vaccine coverage remains low compared with global targets, leaving millions of girls unprotected.

The Protective HPV vaccine, offered free at public facilities and schools, guards against the strains of HPV most commonly linked to cervical cancer. But uptake has been hampered by myths, misinformation and inconsistent services, leading to uneven coverage across the country.

In her remarks at the launch, Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni stressed the need for collective action across counties, communities and healthcare partners to ensure the new plan’s success. “Early detection, HPV vaccination and timely treatment save lives. Let’s ensure every woman has access to these essential services,” she said, stressing that the plan aligns with the World Health Organization’s 907090 targets for cervical cancer elimination.

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To expand access, several counties are already offering free screening and HPV vaccinations through mobile clinics and community outreach efforts. In Kiambu County, health teams have used mobile units to offer free screening, vaccinations and other preventive services to thousands of women and girls.

Advocates argue that HPV vaccination paired with regular screening, particularly HPV DNA based testing, is the most effective way to prevent cervical cancer, which often takes 15–20 years to develop after persistent infection. The Health CS also broadened his remarks to include healthcare pricing fairness, condemning the wide disparity in consultation fees across facilities.

“It’s unacceptable for doctors to charge wildly different prices for the same service, KSh3,000 vs KSh10,000 for a consultation? We must protect patients’ dignity and wallets,” said the CS, calling for standardised pricing to make essential healthcare affordable for all Kenyans.

This announcement comes amid ongoing national debates around Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the need to protect citizens from catastrophic healthcare costs, especially for preventive services that save lives. The cervical cancer plan’s strong emphasis on free, accessible services is seen as a major stride toward those goals.

Cervical cancer ranks among the leading causes of cancerrelated deaths among Kenyan women. Without robust prevention, screening and treatment, future deaths are projected to rise. Data from the Kenya Medical Research Institute shows that cervical cancer accounts for a significant proportion of all cancers reported among women, with stark gaps in early detection and treatment services.

The new national plan aims to address those gaps by linking HPV vaccination, early detection and comprehensive care under one coordinated strategy, and, crucially, by making those services free and transparent for all Kenyans, regardless of income or geographic location.