Sh300m budget cut threatens to roll back gains in fight against TB

As Kenya joins the world in commemorating World Tuberculosis (TB) Day today, there are concerns about the sustainability of programs aimed at eliminating the disease, as a result of funding gaps.

This was revealed to the National Assembly’s Committee on Health during deliberations on the supplementary Estimates for the 2025/2026 financial year.

Appearing before the committee chaired by Seme MP James Nyikal, officials from the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Lung Disease Programme (NTLD-P) warned that a significant funding shortfall would impact key interventions that have enabled Kenya to make notable strides against the disease.

Dr Immaculate Kathure, Head of NTLD-P, told the committee that the programme’s budget had been reduced from $10 million (Sh1.3 billion) to about $7.7 million (Sh1.0 billion) over two years, resulting in a shortfall of Sh300 million annually.

The official cautioned that the funding cut would slow down momentum in rolling out innovative TB treatment and diagnostic approaches that are transforming care.

“We have made progress in shortening treatment regimens, especially for drug-resistant TB, from 18 months to six months, and for children from six months to four months,” Dr Kathure told the committee.

The official added: “We are also introducing preventive therapies that will further reduce treatment periods, but these require proper policy frameworks and guidelines.”

Kathure called for increased budgetary allocation for TB, noting that insufficient funding would hinder the development and dissemination of these policies, ultimately affecting healthcare workers’ ability to implement the new strategies effectively.

The official warned of training gaps as another looming challenge in the fight against TB, a disease that kills at least 30,000 Kenyans annually.

The official explained to the committee that healthcare workers across the country require continuous training to maintain quality care standards, a process now at risk due to limited resources.

The programme is also expanding modern diagnostic technologies, including digital X-rays and near-point-of-care testing methods that use sputum and oral swabs.

These innovations, she maintained, are expected to improve early detection, particularly at primary healthcare facilities and in communities.

However, scaling up such technologies requires substantial investment in infrastructure and human capacity. “The deployment of these interventions to the community level requires training not only for healthcare workers but also for community health promoters,” said Kathure.

She said TB disproportionately affects men, underscoring the need for targeted communication strategies to reach vulnerable populations.

MPs expressed alarm at the potential rollback of gains made in combating TB and other infectious diseases.

The Committee chairperson acknowledged the gravity of underfunding of TB programs, while Nandi Woman Rep Cynthia Muge called for urgent intervention, saying the programme was vital to public health.

“We have seen the devastating effects of TB on families,” said Muge.

The MP also raised concerns over welfare issues affecting staff working under the TB programme, citing reports that some workers had gone unpaid for up to 21 months and lacked health insurance cover.

“We need clarity on their status,” she said. “These are frontline workers handling a serious infectious disease, yet they are facing challenges.”

Chuka Igambang’ombe MP Patrick Munene, who is the vice-chair of the committee, warned that continued reduction in funding for TB, malaria and HIV programmes risk undoing years of progress.

“If this trend continues, even the resources we have already invested could go to waste,” said Munene.

Nyeri Town MP Duncan Mathenge, a member of the Parliamentary TB Caucus, echoed the concerns, saying that Kenya has the potential to eliminate TB if sufficient domestic resources are mobilised.

On Saturday night, TB champions gathered for a night vigil at Rowallan Scouts training camp in Nairobi in honour of individuals who have died while fighting to end the disease.

The champions called for stronger community awareness to end one of Kenya’s deadliest infectious diseases.

Joseph Kilonzo, a Nairobi-based champion, warned that without adequate resources, efforts to curb TB will stall. “We need more funding, especially because many deaths among people living with HIV are driven by TB,” said Kilonzo.

He also called for stronger collaboration between community health promoters and TB champions.

The theme of today’s World TB Day is “Yes! We Can End TB: Led by Government, Powered by Communities.”