The Community Health Promoters Bill, 2022
Status Timeline
Proposed
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Public Review
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Debate
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Executive
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Final
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Establishment of the Community Health Promoters Council
Establishes a new body corporate (Section 3) responsible for assessing promoter qualifications, maintaining a public register of registered practitioners, and enforcing a professional code of conduct and practice standards.
Mandatory Registration and Training Requirements
Requires all community health promoters to register under Section 22. To qualify, individuals must complete prescribed training courses listed under the Second Schedule, which include:
- Community health
- Psychology and counselling
- Social work
- Community HIV counselling and testing
- Immunization
- Community development and health education
A New Professional Disciplinary Committee
Creates a five-member Disciplinary Committee (Section 26) to receive, investigate, and determine complaints against community health promoters. The committee has the power to order removals from the register, suspend registrations, or impose fines.
Penalties for Failing to Surrender Certificates
Under Section 28(3) and (4), any community health promoter whose name is removed from the register must immediately surrender their certificate of registration to the Council. Failure to do so is an offence attracting a fine not exceeding KSh 20,000.
Two-Year Transition Window for Existing Promoters
Section 35 provides a transitional period of twenty-four months from the commencement of the Act. During this window, the Council must ensure that existing practicing community health promoters undergo the prescribed training courses to meet registration standards.
Bill No.
Bill No. 53 of 2022
Gazette No.
Supplement No. 183 of 2022
Background
The Community Health Promoters Bill, 2022, is designed to formally recognize, regulate, and standardize the practice of community health promoters in Kenya. Prior to this, community health promotion operated without a centralized, statutory regulatory body. This Bill addresses that gap by establishing national training, registration, and disciplinary standards to ensure safety and quality in primary healthcare delivery.
Key Provisions
The Community Health Promoters Council
Established under Section 3, the Council is a body corporate tasked with:
- Supervising the professional practice of community health promoters.
- Keeping and maintaining an up-to-date register of all registered community health promoters (Section 5).
- Collaborating with other bodies like the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council and the Nursing Council of Kenya.
Office of the Registrar
Section 17 establishes the office of the Registrar, who is appointed through a competitive process. The Registrar is tasked with receiving applications, advising the Council, maintaining the register, and publishing the list of registered practitioners on the website by March 31st each year (Section 19).
New Obligations
Registration and Code of Conduct
- Any person wishing to practice as a community health promoter must apply for registration, pay a prescribed fee, and prove they have completed the required training (Section 22).
- Registered promoters are obligated to notify the Registrar of any changes to their registered business or employment address (Section 20(2)).
Conflict of Interest for Council Members
Under the First Schedule, Council members must disclose any personal or direct interest in contracts or matters under discussion and recuse themselves from deliberations on those issues.
Penalties
- Failure to Surrender Registration Certificate (Section 28(4)): A community health promoter who fails to surrender their certificate of registration upon being removed from the register commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding KSh 20,000.
- Conflict of Interest Contraventions (First Schedule, Section 2(3)): Any Council member who fails to disclose a conflict of interest commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding KSh 100,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both.
Transitional Provisions
Section 35 requires that within twenty-four months of the commencement of the Act, the Council must ensure all existing, active community health promoters undergo the prescribed courses set out in the Second Schedule to fully qualify for formal registration.
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