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About Us

Learn more about Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation

Our Mission

We are an NGO supporting governments and emergency healthcare providers across Kenya to save lives by strengthening the emergency healthcare system through capacity building, knowledge development, advocacy and research.

Our Vision

An emergency healthcare system in Kenya that is saving lives.

Our Story


The Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation (EMKF) is an NGO founded in 2015 by local healthcare professionals to support governments and emergency healthcare providers across Kenya to save lives by strengthening the emergency healthcare system through capacity building, knowledge development, advocacy and research.

The historic neglect of emergency medical care in the Kenyan healthcare system has stemmed from multiple factors. This has included the misconception of emergency care being ‘too expensive’, as well as the prioritisation of other challenges such as maternal health and infectious diseases. However Kenya is growing rapidly and there is an increase in needs and demand for emergency medical care services. A growing number of individuals with acute illnesses and injuries seek medical attention at healthcare facilities across the country on a daily basis.

Dr Benjamin Wachira, a Kenyan doctor, witnessed numerous patient deaths during emergencies. Seeking a solution, he studied Emergency Medicine in South Africa, where he experienced an efficient emergency healthcare system that saved many lives. Recognizing the need for improvement back home, Dr Wachira returned to Kenya in 2012 and became Kenya's first Emergency Physician based in the country. He established the Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation in 2015 with other local healthcare professionals to advocate for a greater emphasis on emergency medical care within the existing healthcare system. Their goal was to ensure access to public ambulance services for rapid community emergency response and public emergency departments that prioritise emergencies through standardised triage processes and provide evidence-based emergency medical care.

The implementation of timely, accessible, and high-quality emergency medical care in Kenya will bring numerous advantages to the country. Firstly, it will instill public confidence by assuring individuals that they will receive adequate care during emergencies and that their well-being is valued as an integral part of society. Moreover, it guarantees improved long-term outcomes not only for the patients themselves but also for their families. From an economic perspective, investing in quality emergency medical care is a sound decision. When individuals receive timely and effective care during emergencies, they can swiftly return to their daily lives, contributing to the country's growth through their businesses, tax payments, service provision, and support for others. Additionally, by focusing on delivering quality emergency medical care, the healthcare system can prevent long-term complications, resulting in cost savings over time.
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Theory of Change

Our Strategy

2025 - 2030 Scale Strategy
2025 - 2027 Strategic Plan

Our Values

At the heart of the Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation (EMKF) is a set of values that guide how we think, act, and serve. These principles shape every partnership, policy, and program, ensuring that our work consistently strengthens Kenya’s emergency healthcare system to save lives.

EMKF’s Core Beliefs and Values — Teamwork, Integrity, Accountability, Respect, and Innovation — form the acronym “TIARI”, which sounds like “Tiyari”, meaning “Ready” in Kiswahili. This reflects both our cultural heritage and our unwavering resolve to execute our mission with excellence and impact.

Team Player: We foster a culture of teamwork, open communication, and mutual support while prioritizing collaboration and partnership with governments, healthcare providers, communities, and stakeholders to build a coordinated and integrated emergency healthcare system in Kenya that saves lives.

Integrity: We uphold the highest integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct standards in all our activities and interactions.

Accountability: We take responsibility for our actions and outcomes, ensuring that we deliver on our commitments and achieve measurable results to drive continuous improvement and foster trust and credibility in our work.

Respect: We deeply value diversity, inclusion, and respect for all individuals, treating everyone with dignity and fairness while acknowledging and honouring the unique contributions and perspectives that each person brings to the table.

Innovation: We embrace innovation and evidence-based practices to enhance the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of our work, leveraging technology and best practices in emergency medical care to improve outcomes and save lives.

Where We Work

We work across all 47 Counties in Kenya​

Healthcare service delivery in Kenya is the responsibility of the country’s 47 County Governments, while the National Government focuses on policy-making and regulatory functions. To ensure lifesaving emergency medical care for the over 50 million people in Kenya,  EMKF proactively engages with both tiers of government to strengthen the emergency healthcare system, which encompasses 47 public ambulance services and 216 public emergency departments.

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Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation