Kenya’s disease burden shifted significantly between 2023 and 2024.
According to the Kenya Vital Statistics Report 2024 by KNBS, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) surged, accounting for 61.7% of total disease burden in 2024—up from 52.4% in 2023.
Conversely, Communicable Diseases dropped from 34.5% in 2023 to 26.9% in 2024, signaling progress in controlling infections but also highlighting the growing impact of lifestyle-related illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Injuries and Accidents slightly declined from 12.6% to 11.3%, while cases not stated remained negligible (0.4% in 2023 and 0.1% in 2024).
The data emphasises the urgent need for improved policies around NCD prevention, especially given their rising dominance in Kenya’s health profile.
As the country develops, this shift reflects broader global trends where urbanization, sedentary lifestyles, and dietary changes continue to influence national health outcomes.
