Deliberative conversation · Phase 2 · November to December 2025
Addressing healthcare challenges in Kenya
“What are some of the solutions to the challenges you observe in healthcare in your county?” Healthcare came up in four of the five Phase 2 counties, so it became the first national conversation.
WhenNovember to 21 December 2025
Wherepol.is, an X Space and TikTok Live
At a glance
The conversation in numbers
1,236
votes cast
36
solutions proposed by young people
63
people voted on enough proposals to be included in the analysis
4 of 5
Phase 2 counties raised healthcare
Results as of 21 December 2025. The conversation opened on pol.is in November 2025 and was due to close on 7 December; it was extended so that more people could take part. See how the topics were chosen.
In the barazas
Health systems that exist on paper
Turkana
Hospitals that stock little beyond painkillers, and patients who must pay before anyone attends to them.
Isiolo
Poor hospital conditions, a lack of medication and too few health facilities. Raised more than any other issue.
Kisumu
Difficulty getting quality care, especially maternal health.
Nairobi
Too few hospitals, long journeys to reach care, and concerns about the quality of care.
“The problem is that the doctors in public hospitals are few and some often don’t go to work.”
Youth baraza participant, Turkana
“Lack of medicine in hospitals, with doctors referring patients to chemists that they own, is a big problem.”
Youth baraza participant, Nairobi
What young people agreed on
Medicine, money and accountability
The solutions where at least 60% of participants voted the same way, in their own words.
The most agreed solutions
“The government should ensure there is access and availability of medication in hospitals”
88% agreed · 6% disagreed · 50 people voted
“Hospitals should be better funded to be able to purchase equipment that is needed.”
84% agreed · 5% disagreed · 51 people voted
“Cases involving corruption in healthcare, should be a capital offense to reduce rampant corruption”
78% agreed · 14% disagreed · 47 people voted
“Need more accountability for staff in hospitals”
88% agreed · 6% disagreed · 43 people voted
“Health care in Kenya is too expensive”
90% agreed · 4% disagreed · 41 people voted
Source: zKe pol.is report, 21 December 2025.
Three messages stand out. Hospitals need medicine and equipment, which means better funding. Healthcare costs too much. And without accountability for hospital staff and for corruption, more money alone will not fix the problem.
The results shifted as more people joined. In the first weeks, improving maternal health so that pregnant mothers can get cheaper, quality care was among the most agreed solutions. By 21 December it had been overtaken by calls to punish corruption in healthcare, hold hospital staff accountable and make healthcare more affordable.
How pol.is works
On pol.is, people write short statements in answer to the question and vote agree, disagree or pass on statements written by others. pol.is then groups people who vote in similar ways, so we can see both what most people agree on and where opinions divide.
A statement with high “group-informed consensus” is one that people agree on even when they disagree on other things. A divisive statement has strong support in one group and strong opposition in another. Percentages on this page are of the people who voted on each statement; the rest passed.
Where views split
How harshly to punish corruption
“Cases involving corruption in healthcare, should be a capital offense to reduce rampant corruption”
Source: zKe pol.is report, December 2025. Share of each group who voted on the statement.
pol.is found two opinion groups. Group B agreed with almost every solution; Group A was more cautious and often passed. Young people want corruption in healthcare punished, but they do not all agree on how harshly.
Live on X
Health for all or health for a few?
On Saturday 8 November 2025, zKe hosted an X Space, also streamed live on TikTok, to discuss the state of healthcare and bring more young people into the conversation.
The moderator, Okoth Opondo, was joined by Joyce Wambui, a community health volunteer from Dandora; Dr Kevin Bartay, convener of the KMA Junior Doctors’ Network; and Hecky Kizito, speaking as a user of the Social Health Authority (SHA).
What happens next
Back to the counties
In December 2025, the zKe team set out to share a summary of these results with the county officials who took part in the barazas, so that young people’s solutions can inform their work.
The conversation is still open. Read the full results, add your own solution or vote on other people’s ideas.
Add your voice
Propose a solution to the healthcare challenges in your county, or vote on other young people’s ideas.
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