Win for Kang’ata as court orders State to restore Murang’a hospital system
Murang'a Governor Irung’u Kang’ata.
The High Court has ordered the national government to restore access to Murang’a County’s digital health information system and stop interference with the platform.
In the orders issued by Justice Dorah Chepkwony, the court also directed the Ministry of Health, Digital Health Agency, Health Cabinet Secretary, Social Health Authority and Attorney-General to preserve patient records, maintain the county's access to SHA claims services and protect the platform's, Afya.KE, telemedicine functions.
The orders will remain in force pending determination of the county government's case against the State.
The court intervention followed a dispute over the system’s shutdown on October 14. Murang’a County sued, claiming the loss of access threatened patient records, telemedicine services, hospital operations and the submission of claims for reimbursement under SHA. It said the access was withdrawn without a workable transition to another platform.
The county government says the system has supported hospital operations for more than three years, recording patient histories, prescriptions, laboratory requests, billing and claims.
In the court papers, Murang’a sought orders requiring the State agencies s to restore and maintain full access to the system, including its modules, records and administrative functions.
It also asked the court to restrain them from disabling, suspending, replacing or restricting the platform, except under a written agreement preserving services and patient data.
The orders further require the Social Health Authority to facilitate uninterrupted access to services through Afya.KE for the county’s more than 176 public health facilities, including lodging, submitting, monitoring and processing claims.
Another order requires maintenance of the platform’s telemedicine function, which the county says supports more than 25,000 patients. The county says the telemedicine service operates across its 36 health facilities.
The judge certified the application as urgent and directed service on respondents and interested parties within three days. Responses must be filed and served within seven days of service.
The matter is scheduled for mention on November 18 to confirm compliance.
County Secretary Dr Newton Mwangi, in his supporting affidavit, said the system was integral to county health operations and that shutting it down had affected access to information.
He said telemedicine served patients with diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, chronic lung disease, asthma and mental health conditions, many of whom need regular follow-up and prescription refills.
“This has resulted to total shutdown of health services as the County health facilities depend on the system for essential healthcare administration and access to patient information," the county’s filing states.
Exhibits attached to the application include system charts covering January 5 to October 14, 2026. One records 76,185 consultations, while others list diagnoses, prescriptions and laboratory requests.
The Ministry of Health earlier denied switching off Afya.KE. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said on October 15 that the ministry “neither owns, controls, nor manages the system” and does not have its source code.
The ministry described Afya.KE as a private arrangement between the county and its developers. The ministry also said neither the county nor the developers had applied for certification by the Digital Health Agency, rejecting the county’s claim that certification had been refused.
It said SHA beneficiaries in Murang’a would continue receiving care through established SHA systems.
The legal dispute is unfolding during the national transition to a Health Management Information System.
The Ministry of Health has set October 30, 2026, as the deadline for the transition, according to its published notice. The county says it was not given an adequate transition arrangement to protect historical records and maintain services.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this
