Nyeri County is making bold strides in transforming the way health services are delivered at the community level. From June 9th to 13th, 2025, the county piloted the newly developed Primary Care Network (PCN) Functionality Tool, a game-changer in strengthening Primary Health Care (PHC) and accelerating the journey toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Kenya.
Led by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and supported by Amref Health Africa, the pilot brought together multidisciplinary teams from Nyeri South and Mukurwe-ini sub-counties. Participants included facility in-charges, health records officers, Community Health Strategy Coordinators, and various technical experts, all committed to redefining service delivery from the grassroots.
A Tool Designed for Transformation
The PCN Functionality Tool is a powerful innovation developed by the Ministry’s Division of Primary Health Care Networks and the Division of Monitoring and Evaluation. It is designed to:
- Assess performance across PHC facilities.
- Identify critical gaps in service delivery and health system functionality.
- Inform evidence-based planning and policy decisions.
Through thematic areas such as governance, health financing, service delivery, community engagement, and digital health, the tool provides a comprehensive view of how PHC systems function on the ground.
“This tool is timely,” remarked Dr. Helen Kiarie, one of the tool’s architects. “It equips counties to use data to measure performance, identify gaps, and ultimately improve care for every Kenyan.”
Putting the Tool to Work in Nyeri
During the five-day exercise, the teams conducted real-time data collection across several health facilities, including Gumba, Ihuririo, Kiaguthu, Othaya, and Mukurweini. Using the KOBO Collect app, participants gathered data on infrastructure, referral systems, staff availability, financing, and community linkages.
The activity also included rich discussions around the role of Community Health Promoters (CHPs), referral efficiency, health facility financing under the Social Health Authority (SHA), and the inclusion of Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs) in future PHC planning and funding frameworks.
Participants highlighted the need for more alignment between PCN indicators and available health data, better storage of facility records, and clarity in certain tool questions. These insights will feed into the refinement of the tool before national scale-up.
Leadership Commitment
Nyeri County leaders demonstrated unwavering support for the pilot. In his remarks, Dr. Joseph Kiragu, County Executive Committee Member for Medical Services and Public Health, affirmed, “We are honoured to be chosen for this national pilot. Nyeri is ready to lead the way in operationalising PCNs that work and deliver results.”
Other leaders, including Chief Officer Mr. Adan Edin, County Director of Health Dr. Nelson Muriu, and Amref’s Aloise Gikunda, echoed a shared commitment to using this tool to guide investment, strengthen systems, and ensure no one is left behind.
Achievements and Next Steps
All the mapped health facilities in Nyeri County were successfully assessed during the pilot, with participants gaining valuable hands-on experience in data collection. The exercise was marked by strong collaboration between national, county, and partner teams and yielded rich inputs that will be instrumental in refining and improving the PCN Functionality Tool ahead of its national scale-up.
Despite challenges such as competing priorities and data inconsistencies, the pilot was deemed a success. The Ministry of Health plans to roll out the tool in other pilot counties and eventually scale it across all 47 counties.
Toward a Stronger Health System
This pilot marks a critical step in Kenya’s health sector reforms. By equipping counties like Nyeri with the tools and knowledge to monitor and improve PHC, the country moves closer to delivering people-centered, equitable, and quality health services for all.