As much as 72% of Kenyans who skip routine health checks say they “feel healthy”, revealing a critical barrier to the early detection of non-communicable diseases.
NAIROBI, Kenya – [31st August 2026] – A new national survey has found that although most Kenyans are familiar with key health indicators such as blood pressure and blood sugar, far fewer are monitoring them regularly. This exposes a critical gap between health awareness and preventive action as the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) continues to rise in the country.
The Know Your Numbers (KYN) Survey, commissioned by Doctors for Healthy Living (D4HL) and conducted by Ipsos Kenya, involved 1,100 connected and economically active adults living in urban and peri-urban Kenya, to better understand the levels of public awareness, health-seeking behaviour, and preventive healthcare practices.
The survey found that awareness is highest for blood pressure (90%) and blood sugar (78%), then Body Mass Index (BMI) (66%), and cholesterol (63%). Awareness of waist circumference, a key indicator of diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk, is significantly lower at just 25%.
According to the World Health Organization, regular monitoring of key health indicators including blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, Body Mass Index (BMI), and waist circumference, supports the early detection and management of non-communicable diseases before symptoms appear.
However, the survey showed that awareness is not translating into consistent preventive screening. While 79% of respondents reported having checked their blood pressure at least once and 59% had measured their BMI, lifetime screening drops significantly for blood sugar (47%), cholesterol (15%) and waist circumference (9%).
The gap widened further when respondents were asked about recent screening. Within the previous 12 months, only 38% had tested their blood sugar, 10% had checked their cholesterol, and just 6% had measured their waist circumference.
The survey also found that women consistently demonstrate higher awareness and screening rates than men across nearly all health indicators, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve men’s engagement in preventive healthcare.
The survey identified perceived wellness as the single biggest barrier to routine screening. Among respondents who had not undergone recent health checks, 72% said they did not test because they “felt healthy,” far ahead of those citing lack of time (18%), inconvenient timing (12%) or cost (10%). The findings suggest that many Kenyans still view screening as something to do when they are sick rather than as a routine preventive practice.
“One of the biggest challenges in preventive healthcare is that many people equate feeling healthy with being healthy,” said Dr. Robert Mathenge, Co-Founder of Doctors for Healthy Living.
“While feeling well is important, conditions such as hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and even cancer, can develop without obvious symptoms. Detecting health risks and disease early can improve the chances of timely treatment and better outcomes. Knowing and monitoring your key health indicators is, therefore, one of the simplest and most effective ways of taking charge of your health.”
Dr. Mathenge highlighted that with the survey having primarily captured urban and economically active Kenyans, awareness of the key health indicators in rural communities may be lower, underscoring the need to extend health literacy and preventive screening efforts beyond urban centres.
Other than just identifying the problem, the survey points to practical opportunities for expanding preventive healthcare. Despite being among the most frequently visited healthcare touchpoints, pharmacies remain an underutilised setting for preventive health screening with 17% of respondents identifying them as their preferred location for routine health screening. By comparison, 80% preferred private hospitals and clinics, while 71% preferred public health facilities.
The study also identifies workplaces as important platforms for promoting preventive health. Integrating routine health screening into workplace wellness programmes can improve employee wellbeing, reduce absenteeism, and support long-term productivity.
“Knowing your numbers should become as routine as servicing your car or renewing your insurance,” said Anthony Mugo, Head of Partnerships at Doctors for Healthy Living. “Preventive healthcare must become part of where people live, work and access everyday services. The easier and more routine we make screening, the greater our chances of detecting disease early and safeguarding our health.”
The findings come as Kenya experiences a growing burden of NCDs, including hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and obesity. According to the World Health Organization, NCDs account for 74% of deaths globally, with low- and middle-income countries carrying the greatest burden.