Public health is about keeping communities healthy. It looks at clean water, safe food, disease prevention, strong data, and fair access to care. In 2025, Kenya is moving through big health changes as the Social Health Authority replaces NHIF and pushes prevention and primary care to the front. That means more public health jobs, new skills, and clear routes to train for them.
Why Public Health Job or Careers?
Kenya is managing three things at once: non-communicable diseases, infectious disease risks, and environmental threats. With SHA reforms, counties and partners need people who can run programs, track data, and teach communities. It is meaningful work, and it is growing.
List of 7 Top Public Health Job or Careers Opportunities in Kenya (2025)
- Epidemiologist / Disease Surveillance Officer
- Environmental Health Officer
- Health Educator / Promoter
- Public Health Program Manager
- Health Data Analyst / Health Informatics Officer
- Public Health Policy / Health Insurance Specialist
- Academic / Researcher
Below are the roles hiring now, the core skills, how to start at ICMHS, and where you might grow next. Salary notes are indicative monthly ranges based on Kenyan job posts and surveys.
1. Epidemiologist / Disease Surveillance Officer
What you do: Track outbreaks, analyse patterns, guide response.
Skills: Statistics, data tools, field investigation, clear reporting.
Salary snapshot: ~ KES 90k–200k+ as skills and responsibility grow. PayScale’s Kenya data shows average annual pay around KES 1.2m, which aligns with mid-level monthly figures.
Start at ICMHS: Build your base in Community Health then advance into epidemiology at master’s level. See ICMHS Certificate in Community Health and Certificate in Community Health and Development.
Grow further: Master’s in epidemiology or public health at a university or research institute like KEMRI.
2. Environmental Health Officer
What you do: Inspections, sanitation, water safety, occupational health.
Skills: Public health law, field audits, risk assessment, report writing.
Salary snapshot: Often ~ KES 55k–100k+ depending on county and level, consistent with Kenya wage indicators for related environmental health roles.
Start at ICMHS: Begin with Community Health or Community Health Assistant to get hands-on field skills, then specialise.
Grow further: Public or environmental health diplomas and degrees at KMTC or universities.
3. Health Educator / Promoter
What you do: Design campaigns, train communities, support maternal and child health.
Skills: Communication, facilitation, behaviour change, community mobilisation.
Salary snapshot: ~ KES 40k–90k depending on county and NGO funding.
Start at ICMHS: Certificate in Community Health Assistant and Certificate in Community Health and Development prepare you for outreach and program delivery.
4. Public Health Program Manager
What you do: Plan projects, manage budgets, lead teams, report to donors.
Skills: Leadership, project planning, monitoring and evaluation.
Salary snapshot: Roles in large NGOs and agencies can reach KES 150k–250k+ at senior level; entry roles start lower and scale with responsibility. (Ranges inferred from Kenya public sector bands and NGO postings.)
Start at ICMHS: Build a strong foundation with Community Health or Community Health & Development then layer project training as you progress.
5. Health Data Analyst / Health Informatics Officer
What you do: Clean and analyse health records, build dashboards, support decisions.
Skills: Data management, spreadsheet and database tools, analytics.
Salary snapshot: Entry to mid ~ KES 35k–120k+ depending on setting; HRIT survey data sits around KES 25k–95k as skills rise.
Start at ICMHS: Certificate in Health Records & Information Technology gives you practical data skills and a clear path to more advanced roles.
6. Public Health Policy / Health Insurance Specialist
What you do: Support SHA design and rollout, work on financing and access.
Skills: Policy analysis, health economics, stakeholder engagement.
Salary snapshot: Wide range across government and partners; senior roles can exceed KES 150k depending on grade and scope.
Start at ICMHS: Begin with Community Health or Diploma in Health Records for ground-level understanding, then move into policy or health economics at postgraduate level.
7. Academic / Researcher
What you do: Teach, run studies, publish findings, guide policy.
Skills: Research design, analysis, writing, mentoring.
Salary snapshot: Varies with rank and grants; senior researchers in funded programmes earn more.
Start at ICMHS: Use community health or HRIT as a launchpad, then pursue MPH or research-focused degrees at institutes like KEMRI.
Skills You Should Master in 2025?
- Epidemiology basics and biostatistics
- Data and digital tools for health records and analysis
- Community engagement and plain-language communication
- Program planning, budgeting, and M&E
- Health systems, policy, and ethics
Train Here First: Imperial College of Medical and Health Sciences (ICMHS)
Why Imperial College of Medical and Health Sciences – ICMHS?
ICMHS focuses on practical training that matches what counties, hospitals, and NGOs need. You learn how programs really run in communities and clinics, with clear pathways to specialise later.
Programs at ICMHS that fits public health job or career paths
- Certificate in Community Health – A strong foundation in prevention, health promotion, and community work. Ideal if you want to start field-ready and grow into surveillance, health education, or program support.
- Certificate in Community Health and Development – Adds planning, service organisation, and policy awareness so you can analyse trends and design local interventions.
- Certificate in Community Health Assistant – Focused on frontline work like outreach, basic surveillance, and support for immunisation and household follow-up.
- Certificate in Health Records & Information Technology (HRIT) – For students who like data and systems. It covers records handling, coding, and entry-level informatics, with clear entry requirements listed.
- Diploma in Community Health and HIV/AIDS Management – For those who want deeper program and disease-specific skills and a route to supervisory roles.
What this means for you?
You can start with a certificate, gain experience, and step up to a diploma or degree later. This stackable path keeps you employable while you learn.
Other Places to Train
- KMTC – Public health and environmental health training at certificate, diploma, and higher diploma levels. Good for county deployment routes.
- Universities – Bachelor’s and master’s in public health, epidemiology, and related fields at places like UoN and KU.
- KEMRI – Research-oriented training and postgraduate pathways if you aim for epidemiology and public health research.
Career Opportunities and Growth
You will find roles in county health departments, hospitals, NGOs, UN agencies, research centres, insurance and health tech. Pay grows with skills and responsibility. As a guide:
- Entry roles can start around KES 40k–70k per month
- Mid roles often range KES 80k–150k
- Senior roles can pass KES 200k in large NGOs and agencies
These bands blend data from salary surveys and public postings; specific jobs can sit above or below based on employer and location.
Ready to Take the First Step
If you want a hands-on start that employers recognise, begin at ICMHS. Explore:
- Certificate in Community Health – Community practice and prevention.
- Certificate in Community Health and Development – Planning and program design.
- Certificate in Community Health Assistant – Frontline outreach and household follow-up.
FAQs Related to Public Health Job / Career
Yes. With SHA reforms and a strong push for prevention and data, demand is rising across counties, NGOs, and research programs.
Start with ICMHS Certificate in Community Health or Community Health Assistant. You get field skills fast and a path to higher studies while you work.
Consider ICMHS Certificate in Health Records & Information Technology. It is a direct route to health data roles and later health informatics.
Ranges vary by county and grade. Kenya wage indicators place related environmental and occupational health roles roughly between KES 54k and 103k per month, with growth over time.
Build a community or data base at ICMHS, gain experience, then proceed to an MPH or MSc in epidemiology at a university or through research bodies like KEMRI.
