By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, 5 August 2026 - President William Ruto has announced that Kenyans will be able to access emergency medical assistance through the newly launched 922 Lifeline free of charge from any mobile network, regardless of whether they have airtime.
Speaking during the launch of the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre in Nairobi on Wednesday, the President said the initiative is aimed at ensuring that access to emergency healthcare is no longer determined by a person's financial status or location.
"Today, we change that and we change it permanently. We are turning a constitutional guarantee into a service that every Kenyan can reach through the launch of the SHA 922 Lifeline and the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre," Ruto said.
The President noted that for many years, families facing medical emergencies have often struggled to access timely care, despite the Constitution guaranteeing every Kenyan the right to healthcare.
"For too long, the fate of a Kenyan facing an emergency has depended on three things: the money in their pocket, where they happen to live, and who they happen to know. That is not the equality promised or guaranteed by the Constitution. It is playing a lottery on human life," he said.
Ruto said the new 922 emergency number will serve as Kenya's single national medical emergency hotline, connecting callers to trained dispatchers, ambulances and health facilities through one coordinated system.
"When you call 922, the call will be free on every network and it will be accessible whether you have airtime on your phone or not," the President said.
He explained that every call will be handled by trained emergency dispatchers who will establish the caller's location, assess the situation, provide immediate guidance where necessary and dispatch the nearest available ambulance.
"A trained emergency dispatcher will answer, establish a location and assess the emergency. The dispatcher will remain on the line, provide immediate assistance and identify the nearest available ambulance," he said.
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Ruto described the new system as more than just a telephone number, saying it links patients to emergency medical services, the nearest appropriate health facility and the financing required for treatment under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
"Today, this is more than an emergency telephone number. It is a national lifeline. It connects a citizen in distress to emergency medical assistance, an available ambulance, an appropriate health facility and the public financing required to pay for that intervention," he said.
The President also underscored the importance of the "golden hour" in emergency medicine, noting that the first 60 minutes after a serious injury or medical complication often determine whether a patient survives or suffers permanent disability.
The National Ambulance Dispatch Centre will coordinate emergency medical services across all 47 counties, integrating ambulance providers, hospitals and emergency responders through a single digital platform as part of the government's Taifa Care programme.
The system is expected to improve response times and ensure that every Kenyan can access lifesaving emergency care through one toll-free national number.