Kenya Spearheads Digital Payment Revolution for Health Workers
Kenya has reduced payment times for frontline health workers from 15 days to just 72 hours through a new digital payment system introduced by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO).
For years, health workers involved in vaccination campaigns faced lengthy delays and irregular payments under cash-based systems, often leading to frustration and hampering morale. The new system, supported by the WHO Digital Finance Team, now ensures that payments are made directly to workers’ mobile wallets within three days.
“Before, we used to get paid, but there were delays that made things difficult. With the new digital system, payments come on time, and I haven’t faced any problems,” said Joram Obadiah Andera, a community health worker in Busia County.
To enhance accountability, a national Digital Payments Taskforce was formed to register workers, verify data, and oversee disbursements. Despite initial technical challenges, such as mismatched identification details, the platform has been widely praised for its reliability, speed, and transparency.
“The Ministry of Health played a key role in coordinating between counties and partners and ensuring smooth deployment. Kenya is ready for a digital shift in public health delivery,” said Sam Siboyi, Digital Finance Lead at the Ministry of Health.
Partnerships with M-Pesa have further strengthened the initiative, ensuring that even health workers in remote areas receive timely payments. According to WHO Kenya’s Programme Assistant, Lucy Murutu, the system has not only improved efficiency but also boosted motivation among frontline workers.
“The system is faster, more accurate, and limits duplication. Counties have taken ownership, and frontline workers are motivated because they know payments will reach them on time,” she said.
So far, over 120,000 health workers have been registered in a verified database, while 127 Ministry of Health staff across 13 counties have been trained to manage the new process.
With continued investment, Kenya’s digital payment system is expected to serve as a model for other countries, laying the foundation for broader health financing reforms and ensuring timely, secure, and transparent compensation for those delivering life-saving vaccines nationwide.
