On the misty morning of April 11th, 2025, Nyeri stirred gently to life, nestled at the foothills of the majestic Aberdares. The long rains had painted the hills a vibrant green, and the air was rich with the scent of wet soil, blooming coffee, and distant tea plantations. Drops from the night’s rain clung to the blossoming flowers, sparkling as the first shy rays of sun pierced the soft cloud blanket.
Our Health Systems and Financing Accelerator Program (Cohort Two) fellows from Zambia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Central Africa Republic and Kenya, gathered in the crisp morning air with a quiet buzz of excitement running through-notebooks in hand, hearts and eyes wide eager to trade conference rooms for community lanes. Their mission was simple but profound: walk in the shoes of Community Health Promoters (CHPs), listen to their stories, and witness primary health care where it truly begins-at the doorstep.
Our journey would take us through health facilities, community units, and humble households, with one clear purpose: to learn from the everyday heroes who form the invisible backbone of the health system, and to carry their lessons home that could reshape how we build stronger, people-centered health systems in our own countries. Our journey would take us through health facilities, community units, and humble households, with one clear purpose: to learn from the everyday heroes who form the invisible backbone of the health system, and to carry their lessons home that could reshape how we build stronger, people-centered health systems in our own countries.
Who Are These Everyday Heroes?
Across Kenya’s villages, CHPs form an unbroken lifeline between households and the formal health system– ordinary individuals doing extraordinary work to essential health services. Day in and day out, they check on pregnant women, monitor children’s growth, offer counseling, screen for diseases, follow up on medication and many more uncountable duties that society depends on them to support. Without fanfare or applause, they build the first line of defense for health, fueled by nothing more than deep commitment to their neighbors and a vision of healthier futures.
The Field Experience-Human Centered Stories
The Field Experience-Human Centered Stories
Facility Visits: Meeting the Teams Behind the Scenes
Our first stop was the vibrant Nyeri Town Health Center, where we were warmly received by a team comprising the facility in-charge, the sub-county community health focal person, a Community Health Assistant (CHA), and Community Health Promoters (CHPs) serving the Majengo Community Health Unit (CHU). They walked us through Nyeri County’s community health services model — detailing the roles of CHUs, CHAs, Community Health Committees (CHCs), and CHPs, and how these link seamlessly with the health facility to ensure continuity of care from the household to the clinic.
One striking moment was learning that the sub-county focal person had just completed training in sign language — a powerful step toward equipping CHPs to better communicate with people with hearing disabilities. The facility in-charge also shared a compelling story of collaboration: how the health center and CHU had jointly built a case for funding, successfully leading to the expansion of maternity services at the facility — a true testament to what community-facility partnerships can achieve.
We stood in quiet awe as the Community Health Promoters (CHPs) confidently opened their kits — compact but powerful tools stocked with essential supplies like a blood pressure machine, thermometer, MUAC tape, and a weighing scale. One CHP carefully demonstrated how to take a fellow’s blood pressure, explaining each step with precision. It wasn’t just the skill that struck us — it was the calm authority, the fluency in health promotion, and the deep connection to the work. These are not just volunteers — they are frontline health workers reversing the tide of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through early detection, regular household screenings, and trusted relationships within their communities. Where clinics may be distant or overloaded, CHPs bring preventive care right to the doorstep — one blood pressure reading, one nutrition screening, one meaningful conversation at a time.
At Tumaini Dispensary, we met a vibrant team of health workers and CHPs from the Tumaini Community Unit. The health facility is in the informal settlements of Kiawara, Majengo has a catchment population of 3369 people. An amazing story about the facility is that the establishment is shared with the church, so that from Monday to Saturday it operates as a health facility, and on Sunday it is converted into a church – this shows the selfless nature of the community in Kiawara Majengo.
The resilience was inspiring, but challenges were evident too —space and inadequate medical supplies being the greatest challenges. Nonetheless, the energy among the staff, the CHPs and the community remains unbroken.
Household Visits: Health at the Frontline
In groups, we later followed CHPs through narrow village paths to select households. At Susan Wahito’s home, we found a story that melted every heart: She cradled her baby, recalling the support she received from the CHP throughout her continuum of pregnancy.
Jane Muthoni, the Community Health Promoter supporting Majengo community health Unit in Kiawara, was with us during the visit. Besides assessing the baby’s weight and checking the mother and child booklet, she also assessed the mother’s breastfeeding technique. As she worked, she explained:
"I visit households and check on the health status of the people. I give health education. If I find someone sick, I refer them to the facility. I also make follow-ups."
Reflections and Lessons
Walking alongside CHPs revealed an undeniable truth: health doesn’t start in health facilities corridors. It starts at home, in conversations, in trust, in small acts of daily care.
The proximity of CHPs to families fosters resilience, early intervention, and real empowerment. Their strength lies not just in their knowledge but in trust, they cultivate trust that no centralized system can replicate from afar.
A Call to Recognize and Support CHPs
If community health promoters are the invisible backbone of Kenya’s health system, then investing in them isn’t charity — it’s wisdom.
Regular stipends, continuous training, reliable supply chains, and formal recognition aren’t luxuries. They are necessities if we are serious about achieving universal health coverage (UHC). When we invest in CHPs, we invest in stronger, fairer health systems that leave no one behind.
A Tribute
In the laughter shared at dusty doorsteps, in the careful notes taken and the large volume of data collected by CHPs under various conditions they are subjected to in the slums and varying geographies in Kenya, and in the grateful smiles of mothers, we witnessed the heartbeat of Kenya’s health system.
Did you know?
in Kenya
Geredine Kandie
is a Health Financing Technical Advisor at the Financing Alliance for Health, a change agent who is passionate about system strengthening with a focus on primary health care. A champion of everyday heroes transforming lives in our communities
Dennis Munguti
is the Director of Country Engagement and Support at the Financing Alliance for Health. He leads efforts to secure sustainable financing and drive policies that empower Community Health Promoters (CHPs) across Africa.
Oscar Agoro
Is the Head of Planning, M&E and Research at Nyeri County Health Services Department, a strong advocate for CHPs, committed to ensuring they are recognized, motivated, and fully supported to deliver frontline care.
