Kenya’s Murang’a County Government Launches Starlink-Powered Satellite Internet for 170 Health Facilities
Murang’a County has launched Kenya’s largest public digital healthcare initiative, connecting 170 health facilities through a Starlink-powered satellite internet network delivered by Paratus Kenya under the Paratus Essential Access offering. The rollout is set to improve access to healthcare for approximately 1.2 million residents, the majority of whom live in rural communities. The project is considered one of the largest connected telemedicine programmes not only in Kenya, but also across Africa.
The initiative integrates telemedicine with digital health reporting, enabling patients to access specialist consultations at their nearest clinic while Community Health Promoters submit health data directly from the field. This strengthens patient care, improves disease monitoring, and accelerates service delivery across the county. Patients benefit from faster diagnosis, reduced travel time, and access to specialist expertise that was previously unavailable in many rural areas. In addition, digital health records can be accessed remotely, while laboratory samples are transported to larger facilities and results uploaded back into the system for immediate review.
The project forms part of Murang’a County’s healthcare transformation programme under the leadership of Governor Dr Irungu Kang’ata, and aligns with Kenya’s broader Universal Health Coverage and digital health goals.
Governor Dr Irungu Kang’ata said: “This programme is improving access to healthcare by connecting facilities, empowering healthcare workers, and ensuring communities can receive quality medical support closer to home. It is a major step forward in strengthening healthcare delivery across Murang’a.”
Powered by the Paratus Essential Access Programme
The telemedicine system currently supports hundreds of consultations daily through a central hub, enabling doctors to connect remotely with patients in surrounding clinics and dispensaries. The rollout also includes digital health hubs that extend access to neighbouring communities. A total of 170 public health facilities are already operational under the Paratus Essential Access programme in Murang’a, with a further 302 expected to be added before the end of the year. With 15 doctors based at the central telemedicine hub, the system can handle between 450 and 600 patients per day.
Paratus Kenya managed the rollout of the Paratus Essential Access programme and Starlink installations across the county following the successful pilot phase, which involved 35 health facilities and concluded at the end of 2025. The programme now provides reliable high-speed connectivity to a range of institutions, including hospitals, schools, NGOs, police stations, fire stations, and digital hubs.
The Managing Director of Paratus Kenya, Joseph Kibwott, said: “Paratus Essential Access is designed to support the institutions that communities depend on every day. This project demonstrates how connectivity can transform healthcare access and improve service delivery in underserved areas. It is a lifeline for rural communities.”
The official launch of the Murang’a Digital Healthcare Access programme will take place on 28 May 2026 at the county’s telemedicine hub, where healthcare stakeholders and national media will witness live demonstrations of the system. The event will also be attended by senior healthcare officials from other African countries, including Nigeria and Ethiopia, where digital telemedicine solutions are also being explored.