Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Purity Mukami, Joy Kirigia, Gabriel Geiger, Tomas Statius and Aisha Down

Flaws in Kenya’s AI-driven health reforms driving up costs for the poorest

Mothers with children waiting at Kuoyo Sub-county hospital in Kisumu, Kenya.
Mothers waiting at Kuoyo sub-county hospital in Kisumu, Kenya. The new ‘AI-powered’ healthcare system appears to penalise the poorest. Photograph: Michel Lunanga/Getty Images

An AI system used to predict how much Kenyans can afford to pay for access to healthcare, has systemically driven up costs for the poor, an investigation has found.

The healthcare system being rolled out across the country, a key electoral promise of President William Ruto, was launched in October 2024 and intended to replace Kenya’s decades-old national insurance system.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.