ADVOKS GLOBAL · KENYA
Public Health Act
10. Functions of Medical Department
Edition: 2026-07-10 · In force
10. Functions of Medical Department
(1)There shall be a department, to be known as the Medical Department, which shall be under the control of the Director-General for health.(2)The functions of the Medical Department shall be, subject to the provisions of this Act, to prevent and guard against the introduction of infectious disease into Kenya from outside; to promote the public health and the prevention, limitation or suppression of infectious, communicable or preventable disease within Kenya; to advise and direct local authorities in regard to matters affecting the public health; to promote or carry out researches and investigations in connexion with the prevention or treatment of human diseases; to prepare and publish reports and statistical or other information relative to the public health; and generally to carry out in accordance with directions the powers and duties in relation to the public health conferred or imposed by this Act.(2A)The function of the Medical Department shall include the—(a)conduct of audits on the traceability mechanisms established by persons who sell food or expose food for sale; and(b)implementation of the multi-annual control plan in the performance of its functions.(3)It shall be the duty of the department to obtain and publish periodically such information regarding infectious disease and other health matter in Kenya, and such procurable information regarding epidemic disease in territories adjacent to Kenya or in other countries, as the interests of the public health may require.