Mau Narok and Kabatini Health Centres in Njoro and Bahati Sub-counties, Nakuru County, hosted a delegation from the Nyeri County Department of Health during a high-level inter-county learning exchange visit. The visit focused on strengthening collaboration and knowledge sharing on Primary Care Networks (PCNs) as part of Kenya’s ongoing health system reforms.

At Mau Narok Health Centre, the Nyeri delegation was taken through a detailed presentation on the implementation of the Primary Care Network model. The facility demonstrated how healthcare providers within the PCN collaborate to deliver comprehensive and coordinated care to a defined population. Through this system, patients are assured of receiving timely and appropriate services within the network of linked facilities.

The delegation also observed a medical outreach organized at Kianjoya by the Mau Narok Health Centre hub. The outreach was supported by medical officers from Molo Sub-county and Nakuru County Teaching and Referral Hospital. Residents were able to access a wide range of healthcare services delivered in partnership with the facility team. The outreach illustrated how PCN hubs extend services closer to the community and improve access to care.

In Kabatini Health Centre, the exchange focused on the Smart PCN model. Here, the Nyeri team learned how Community Health Promoters (CHPs) at the household level are the first point of contact in the referral pathway. CHPs identify health needs, offer basic support, and refer patients to nearby health facilities within the network for further management. This referral system enhances efficiency by linking community-based care with facility-based services, reducing delays in access and strengthening the overall continuum of care.

The inter-county learning exchange was supported by Amref Health Africa in Kenya under the THRIVE Project. The initiative seeks to build stronger health systems by promoting innovative approaches that ensure people-centered care across all levels.

Nakuru County Department of Health was represented by County Chief Nurse, Wendy Tirop, and Head of County Health Records, Luke Kiptoon. The officials guided the delegation through the sessions and highlighted how PCNs are contributing to better coordination of services, improved data use, and stronger linkages between communities and health facilities.

The exchange between Nakuru and Nyeri is part of ongoing efforts to ensure counties adopt effective models that can be scaled to strengthen primary health care. By documenting and sharing lessons from these visits, counties are working towards achieving the objectives of universal health coverage through structured Primary Care Networks.