Kenya’s health system is undergoing a significant digital transformation. From electronic health records and digital health platforms to tools used by community health workers, technology is increasingly becoming part of how health services are delivered, monitored and managed.
But as health information moves from paper files into digital systems
, an important question must remain at the centre of this transformation: what does digital health mean for the people whose data is being collected?
Health NGO’s Network (HENNET), with the support of KELIN under the My Data, Our Health campaign convened an engagement on 18th September 2026. The engagement brought together grassroots associations of journalists to strengthen understanding of digital health, health data rights, data protection and the role of the media in informing citizens and promoting accountability.
The discussions underscored a fundamental principle that digital health is not simply about introducing technology into healthcare. It is about transforming health systems in ways that improve people’s access to quality care while protecting their rights, privacy and dignity.
Digital transformation must go beyond digitizing paper
One of the key messages emerging from the engagement was that digital transformation should not be reduced to the replacement of paper records with electronic systems.
An effective digital health ecosystem should improve how health services are planned, delivered and monitored. It should strengthen accountability, support continuity of care, improve the management of health resources and enable health workers to access relevant information when and where it is needed.
Interoperability, for example, should not be interpreted to mean that everyone has unrestricted access to everyone’s health information. Rather, access should be determined by defined roles and responsibilities, with appropriate authorization and traceability.
Digital health transformation must therefore be measured not simply by the number of systems deployed, but by whether those systems work for patients, health workers, communities and the wider health system.
Putting people at the centre of health data
Every digital health system depends on the data generated by people that is a patient’s name, identification details, location, symptoms, diagnosis, test results, treatment history, medicines, referrals and payment information can all form part of their health data. Once this information enters a digital system, questions of privacy, security, access and responsible use become increasingly important.
Yet awareness of these rights remains a challenge.
Citizens should be able to ask basic questions: What information are you collecting about me? Why do you need it? Who can access it? How will it be used? How will it be protected?
These are not merely technical questions. They are questions of trust, dignity and accountability.
Consent is important—but it is not the whole story
In health settings, people often encounter consent forms and may assume that consent is the basis for every instance of data collection. However, consent is only one possible lawful basis for processing personal data.
There are circumstances where information may be processed because of a legal obligation or contractual requirement. Where consent is the appropriate basis, then individuals should understand what they are agreeing to, why the information is being collected and how it will be used.
The media has a critical role to play in digital transformation
Digital transformation is rapidly changing how healthcare is delivered, how health information is managed and how citizens interact with health systems. The shift from paper-based to digital systems presents opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen continuity of care, support better decision-making and enhance accountability. However, as health systems become increasingly digital, there is an equally important need to ensure that citizens understand these changes and are able to engage with them.
Therefore, the role of the media should go beyond reporting they should ask deeper questions about whether these systems are accessible, secure, effective and responsive to citizens’ needs. Reporting on health data requires a strong commitment to privacy and responsible journalism. When reporting on data breaches involving personal health information, the media must avoid further exposing individuals whose information may already have been compromised. Public-interest reporting should inform the public while protecting the dignity, privacy and safety of affected people. Every health record represents an individual, a family and a lived experience. Every data point carries responsibilities around privacy, security and responsible use.
Building trust into Kenya’s digital health future
Kenya’s digital health transformation presents significant opportunities to strengthen healthcare delivery, improve information management and support progress towards universal health coverage.
But technology alone cannot deliver these outcomes.
The systems being built must be trusted by the people they are intended to serve. That trust will depend on whether citizens understand their rights, whether institutions protect their information, whether access is appropriately governed and whether there are meaningful mechanisms for accountability when things go wrong.
For HENNET and KELIN, strengthening public understanding of health data rights is therefore an important part of building a people-centered digital health system.
Therefore, the conversations on digital health should continue beyond the training rooms and into communities, newsrooms, health facilities and policy spaces.