Here’s an overview of healthcare costs in Kenya — including typical medical fees, insurance coverage limits, and how much you might pay in public vs private settings. Costs can vary widely by facility (public, private, mission/faith‑based) and type of service.

🏥 1. Consultation (Doctor Visit) Fees

• General practitioners: up to ~KES 2,500 per visit under new regulatory caps.

• Specialists: up to ~KES 4,000 per visit.

• Many private hospitals even charge consultations from KES 1,600 to KES 2,000+.

💡 In smaller clinics or public health centres, basic walk‑in consultation fees are often lower (sometimes a few hundred shillings).

🛌 2. Inpatient (Hospital Stay) Costs

Under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) / NHS‑style tariffs:

• Level 4 hospitals (county): ~KES 3,360 per day.

• Level 5 hospitals (regional): ~KES 3,920 per day.

• Level 6 hospitals (national referral): ~KES 4,480 per day.

These rates can apply to bed charges, nursing care, basic imaging and labs up to prescribed limits.

In large private hospitals in Nairobi and major towns:

• Bed fees can average KES 6,500–9,000+ per day.

• If you stay for weeks, the total bill can run into hundreds of thousands of shillings.

🤰 3. Maternity Costs

• Normal delivery: up to ~KES 40,000 (max regulated fee).

• Caesarean section: up to ~KES 80,000 (max regulated fee).

• Under NHIF maternity cover:– Normal delivery capped at ~KES 10,000– C‑section capped at ~KES 30,000 (depending on scheme limits).

🧪 4. Diagnostics & Specialist Procedures

Prices vary a lot by facility and insurance cover, but approximate figures under SHIF include:

• MRI scan: ~KES 11,000

• CT scan: ~KES 6,900

• Dialysis session: ~KES 10,650

(Note: These may be more expensive in high‑end private hospitals.)

🩺 5. Insurance & NHIF/Social Health Insurance

💊 NHIF (National Hospital Insurance Fund):

• Provides inpatient and outpatient cover up to certain limits.

• Bed charge cover: ~KES 1,200/night (public) up to ~KES 4,000/night (private).

• Diagnostics and treatments like CT/MRI, chemo, radiology also have covered ceilings.

👉 Even with NHIF, patients often pay a “top‑up” if the hospital bill exceeds the coverage amount.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Public healthcare is generally cheaper, especially with NHIF/SHIF, but quality and wait times vary.

• Private healthcare offers faster, more comprehensive services, but at significantly higher out‑of‑pocket costs.

• Insurance (NHIF or private plans) can greatly reduce direct costs, but policies differ in what they cover.