Transforming Primary Health Care through Digital Health Cooperatives: A Technology-Driven Approach Leveraging Kenyan Universities

Abstract

Digital transformation offers new opportunities for strengthening primary health care (PHC) systems and accelerating universal health coverage (UHC). In Kenya, PHC continues to face persistent challenges, including out-of-pocket health expenditure, health workforce shortages, inequitable access, infrastructure gaps and uneven system responsiveness. This paper examines the potential of university-linked digital health cooperatives as innovative mechanisms for transforming PHC delivery in Kenya. The study focused on selected institutions including the Management University of Africa, University of Embu, Amref International University and the University of Nairobi, together with cooperative leaders, health practitioners, policy actors and community representatives. A mixed-methods design was adopted, using purposive and stratified sampling to obtain 360 respondents. Data were collected through questionnaires, key informant interviews and document review. Findings indicate that digital health cooperatives can improve PHC access, enhance workforce capacity through academic partnerships, strengthen financial protection through cooperative risk-sharing and improve responsiveness through telemedicine, mobile health, digital records and community-based data systems. However, digital infrastructure gaps, regulatory limitations, digital literacy barriers, data privacy concerns and sustainability constraints remain key challenges. The paper recommends policy support, university-community partnerships, digital infrastructure investment and integration of cooperative models into national PHC strategies.

Authors and affiliations

• Dr. Domeniter N. Kathula; Prof. John Cheluget; Dr. Daniel A. Otwori · Corresponding author

  Management University of Africa, Nairobi, Kenya

  Kenya

Institution: Management University of Africa, Nairobi, Kenya

Corresponding author: Dr. Domeniter N. Kathula | dkathula@mua.ac.ke

Publication details

Journal

Nexus International Journal of Applied Science, Medicine and Social Sciences

Publication date

August 2026

Volume

1

Issue

2

Issue title

Volume 1, Issue 2

Pages

402-411

Article type

Original Research

Discipline

Digital Health, Primary Health Care and Universal Health Coverage

Publisher

Nexus Academic Press

e-ISSN

3144-2196

Published paper ID

NIJAMSS-V1S2-AUG2026-017

Registration ID

NIJAMSS-V1S2-AUG2026-017

Paper number

017

Country

Kenya

Peer review

Peer Reviewed

Access

Open Access

Article URL: https://www.nijamss.org/articles/nijamss-v1s2-aug2026-017/

Full-text PDF: https://www.nijamss.org/articles/nijamss-v1s2-aug2026-017/full-text.pdf

References

References have not been supplied as separate metadata. Please consult the full-text PDF for the article's reference list.

Citation

Dr. Domeniter N. Kathula; Prof. John Cheluget; Dr. Daniel A. Otwori. Transforming Primary Health Care through Digital Health Cooperatives: A Technology-Driven Approach Leveraging Kenyan Universities. Nexus International Journal of Applied Science, Medicine and Social Sciences, Vol. 1, Issue 2, August 2026.