Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fast emerging as a transformative force in Kenyan healthcare, particularly in simplifying clinical decisions and improving the overall quality of medical care.
In many rural and peri-urban clinics, junior doctors are often forced to make complex medical decisions without access to senior mentorship or specialist support. This frequently leads to delayed diagnoses, suboptimal treatment, and inconsistent adherence to clinical guidelines.
The good news is that AI is increasingly being used to assist in diagnosing illnesses by examining patient data, medical imaging, and other inputs to detect patterns and anomalies that may indicate specific conditions. With the help of innovation and technology, diagnoses can be made faster and more accurately—potentially enabling earlier treatment and improved patient outcomes.
While some healthcare professionals remain sceptical, arguing that AI may never fully replace human intuition in medical decisions, the technology is nevertheless being embraced as a valuable support tool. Critics often raise concerns about accuracy and reliability, but AI continues to prove itself as a strategic approach to enhancing the decision-making process in clinical settings.
Kenya’s healthcare sector faces significant challenges, notably the critical doctor-to-population ratio. According to data, only about 10,000 doctors serve a population of more than 52 million.
In response, Aga Khan University’s Data Innovation Office has developed Afya Gema, an AI-powered clinical decision support platform that is already playing a pivotal role.
Farhana Alarakhiya, Chief Data Innovation Officer at Aga Khan University and Principal Investigator for Afya Gema, is optimistic about the potential of AI to improve healthcare outcomes in Kenya. The platform is designed to simplify clinical questions by integrating medical evidence and providing decision support tailored to the local context.
Afya Gema has been selected for the 2025 Google.org Accelerator, which aims to advance the use of generative AI in the social sector. Through this programme, participants receive a share of a $30 million fund, along with six months of structured support, technical training, and access to Google Cloud credits and pro bono assistance from Google employees.
With this support, Afya Gema will expand its efforts to equip clinicians across Kenya with real-time, evidence-based guidance. The platform integrates anonymised health records from a Kenyan Electronic Health Record (EHR) system developed by Aga Khan University, Kenya-specific clinical guidelines, and a curated library of peer-reviewed research. Clinicians can interact with the platform using natural language queries in both English and Swahili.
“By harnessing generative AI, we’re democratising clinical knowledge, making it instantly accessible to frontline healthcare workers,” says Alarakhiya.
“With Google.org’s support, we can accelerate the localisation and refinement of our models, ensuring that even the most remote clinics have access to the same quality of insights as urban hospitals.”
Afya Gema will be deployed in 40 facilities within the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) and Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS) networks. The platform’s multilingual interface enhances accessibility for Kenya’s diverse healthcare workforce, and its recommendations are rooted in local disease trends and protocols.
Did you know?
The Aga Khan University Data Innovation Office collaborates with researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to develop scalable, data-driven solutions that improve health outcomes and inform public policy. By advancing healthcare delivery and strengthening public health systems, the office underscores a strong commitment to using data and technology for equitable, evidence-based progress.
