While the county recorded 1,500 TB cases in 2025, health leaders say the bigger challenge lies in the number of infections that go undetected until the disease has significantly progressed. This reality has informed a new approach anchored in the Kirinyaga County Strategic Operational Framework for Tuberculosis.
The framework signals a shift from reactive treatment to a more coordinated, data-driven and community-centered response. County officials say the plan will integrate TB care into routine health services, expand access across both public and private facilities, and strengthen prevention efforts at the grassroots.
Speaking during World TB Day commemorations in Ngurubani, Mwea, County Executive Committee Member for Health George Karoki noted that delayed health-seeking behavior continues to undermine progress.
“We are still missing cases. Too many people, especially men, are coming to hospital late,” he said, underscoring the need for more aggressive awareness and screening efforts.
To support earlier diagnosis, the county has invested in diagnostic infrastructure, including the installation of GeneXpert machines in four hospitals and the integration of digital X-ray services. A 24-bed TB isolation unit has also been established to improve patient management and reduce transmission risks.
County Director of Health Services Esbon Gakuo emphasized the importance of public participation in curbing the disease, urging residents to take advantage of the available services.
“TB remains a serious public health threat, but it is treatable. The best response is early testing,” he said.
As Kirinyaga rolls out its new strategy, the success of the initiative will likely depend not just on infrastructure, but on its ability to shift public behavior and bring more people into care before it is too late.
