CHRISTIAN HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF KENYA

What CHRISTIAN HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF KENYA does

Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK) is a national faith-based non-profit organization founded in 1946 (originally as the Protestant Churches Medical Association) and headquartered in Nairobi. CHAK serves as a membership association and technical support organization for 608 member institutions across 45 of Kenya's 47 counties — comprising 35 hospitals, 127 health centers, 322 dispensaries, 68 church organizations, 29 community-based health programmes, and 20 medical training colleges — delivering health services to underserved rural populations.

CHAK's core product is its CHAK Hospital Management Information System (CHMIS), an automated web-based platform supporting core operations, data integration, lab integration, and financial management at member facilities. This is complemented by Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems deployed across member health units and linked to Kenya's Ministry of Health DHIS2 platform for national reporting. CHAK operates as the umbrella body for multiple donor-funded health programs: HIV/AIDS programming (CHAP Stawisha, CHAK Jamii Tekelezi/UJTP), reproductive and maternal health (RMNCAH Project, MNCH Accelerator), non-communicable diseases (Novartis Familia Nawiri, PEP Programme for cardiometabolic disease), pharmaceutical access (EPN Access Project, IMPACT Project), and innovation models (CMaT for county-led sustainability, IMARA for integrated HIV/NCD care).

CHAK's business model is funded primarily through international donor grants (PEPFAR, Gates Foundation, Global Fund, Novo Nordisk Foundation, GIZ, Bread for the World, Novartis), supplemented by member subscription fees, Social Health Authority (SHA) reimbursements flowing through facilities to services rendered, and revenue from CHAK Business Services Limited (CBSL), its social enterprise spanning hospitality, medical equipment, real estate, and consultancies. The organization is governed by an Annual General Meeting of members and a Board of Trustees comprising senior church leaders, with day-to-day operations led by a Secretariat headed by the General Secretary.

Name

CHRISTIAN HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF KENYA

Legal name

Christian Health Association of Kenya

Website

https://chak.or.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CHAK is a Kenyan faith-based non-profit founded in 1946 that operates as a membership association and technical support body for 608 health institutions across 45 counties, delivering HIV/AIDS, RMNCAH, NCD, and health systems programs funded largely by international donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Healthcare Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAJAOAL

Health Systems Strengthening & Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Partnerships

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health Initiatives & Partnerships

SECONDARYBPADAIAO

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL) for Global Health

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Global Health & Population Programs

Keywords

• Faith-based healthcare
• Health systems strengthening
• HIV/AIDS program delivery
• Hospital information systems
• Maternal and child health

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. International Donor Funding: CHAK receives substantial funding from international development partners including PEPFAR, Gates Foundation, Global Fund, GIZ, Bread for the World, UKAID, Packard Foundation for implementation of health programs.
2. Government Health Financing (SHA/NHIF): Member health units receive reimbursement through Social Health Authority (SHA) and formerly NHIF for services rendered under Universal Health Coverage schemes.
3. Membership Subscriptions: Member health units pay annual subscription fees as per CHAK Constitution. Hospitals and churches pay set annual subscription fees and obtain voting rights at AGM.
4. CHAK Business Services Limited (CBSL): Social enterprise diversifying revenue across hospitality (CHAK Guest House), health information systems, property development, medical engineering, and other sectors to contribute to CHAK's long-term sustainability.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CHAK is a national faith-based membership association coordinating 608 Protestant church-affiliated health institutions across 45 of Kenya's 47 counties. It delivers health programming in HIV/AIDS, RMNCAH, and non-communicable diseases, operates the CHMIS hospital information system and EMR platforms integrated with DHIS2, supports member facilities through capacity building and advocacy, and runs a diversified social enterprise (CBSL) covering hospitality, medical equipment, property, and consulting.

Product overview

CHAK operates as a technical support organization for faith-based health facilities rather than a single product company. Its portfolio includes the CHAK Hospital Management Information System (CHMIS) as its core digital health platform, alongside multiple health programs including CHAP Stawisha (HIV/AIDS), CHAK Jamii Tekelezi (community health), RMNCAH projects, MNCH Accelerator, PEP Programme for cardiometabolic diseases, and CMaT/IMARA sustainability models. CHAK Business Services Ltd (CBSL) provides subsidiary services including medical equipment, hospitality (CHAK Guest House), and real estate. The organization manages a network of 608 member health units across 45 counties in Kenya.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CHAK Hospital Management Information System (CHMIS) Automated web-based solution enhancing core operations of healthcare facilities including data integration, lab integration, financial management, and patient records management. Linked to MOH DHIS2 platform for service data reporting.
• CHAP Stawisha Four-year initiative (2022-2026) focused on boosting healthcare access, efficiency, and patient outcomes in HIV/AIDS care, PMTCT, pediatric care, and health systems strengthening across multiple Kenyan counties.
• CHAK Jamii Tekelezi (UJTP) Five-year US-funded health program (2021-2026) supporting county governments in achieving HIV/AIDS response goals and epidemic control, protecting welfare of children and adolescents affected by HIV/AIDS, and providing community-level health interventions.
• CHAK Bread for the World RMNCAH Project Three-year initiative (2023-2026) improving access to reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health services across 60 health units in 15 counties, funded by Bread for the World Germany.
• Partnership for Education of Health Professionals (PEP) Programme Four-year programme (2026-2030) supported by Novo Nordisk Foundation with a USD 9.4 million grant to strengthen health professionals' education for prevention and management of cardiometabolic diseases.
• County Mentorship and Transition (CMaT) Model Framework for achieving sustainability in health programs through structured capacity development, embedded mentorship, and joint accountability; co-created by CHAK Jamii Tekelezi and county governments (Embu, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Nyandarua), adopted by U.S. Department of State.
• Novartis Health Systems Strengthening Project (Familia Nawiri) Health System Strengthening programme extending the Familia Nawiri project to 12 hospitals across 10 counties, focusing on community education, early screening, and linkage to care for five NCDs: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, epilepsy, sickle cell disease, and breast cancer.
• Access Project Three-year grant (2022-2025) from the Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN) bettering pharmaceutical services through improved access to quality-assured essential medicines in 20 lower-level member health units.
• IMPACT Project Three-year project (2023-2026) in partnership with EPN and Action Medeor providing long-term training in basic pharmaceutical knowledge with focus on medicine supply management and rational use across 13 facilities in Kakamega County.
• EIS Study (Evaluation of Integrated Services) Evaluation study generating key evidence on integrating HIV, Diabetes, and Hypertension care across 50 facilities in Nairobi, Kitui, and Kiambu Counties, in partnership with the Gates Foundation.
• IMARA Care Package Integrated Model for Accessible, Resilient and Accountable Care — locally driven evidence-based framework for delivering integrated HIV and non-communicable disease care in primary health settings.
• Africa Clear Sight Partnership Project Project funded by Restoring Vision through ACHAP to increase awareness and education on presbyopia, strengthen capacity of health workers for screening, and provide reading glasses.
• Digital Health Transformation Initiative (SHA HMIS Transition) Initiative to digitise health records and transition CHAK member facilities from the SHA provider portal to certified, interoperable Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) that support SHA claims and connect to the National Health Information Exchange.
• CHAK Medical Officer Internship Program Joint internship program involving the Ministry of Health, medical training schools, and CHAK-accredited hospitals (including AGC Tenwek, AIC Litein, AIC Kijabe, PCEA Kikuyu, PCEA Tumutumu, PCEA Chogoria) to provide Medical Officer internship placements.
• CHAK Member Health Units Network Membership services network of 608 institutions across 45 counties — 35 hospitals, 127 health centers, 322 dispensaries, 68 churches/church organizations, 29 CBHC programmes, and 20 medical training colleges — providing annual subscriptions, governance, capacity building, and advocacy.
• CHAK Business Services Limited (CBSL) Social enterprise diversifying CHAK's revenue across hospitality (CHAK Guest House), health information systems, property development, medical engineering, consultancies, and other sectors to contribute to long-term sustainability.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80 years of service providing quality healthcare across Kenya
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• NovartiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Health System Strengthening programme for NCDs (Familia Nawiri project) focusing on community education, early screening, and linkage to care for five NCDs.
• Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on pharmaceutical services (Access Project) and MNCH project. CHAK implementing EPN projects in Kenya.
• Africa Christian Health Associations' Platform (ACHAP)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional network membership for advocacy, networking and partnership engagement.
• Christian Connections for International Health (CCIH)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational FBO health network membership for advocacy and partnership.
• World Council of Churches (WCC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational ecumenical body membership for advocacy and partnership.
• Kenya Ministry of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership framework (MoU) between MOH, Council of Governors and KFBHSC signed November 2019. Joint internship programs and health programming coordination.
• Kenya Medical Training CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPEP Programme consortium partner for health professional education on cardiometabolic diseases.
• Kenya Conference of Catholic BishopscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPEP Programme consortium partner representing Catholic health facilities.
• NCD Alliance of KenyasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPEP Programme consortium partner for cardiometabolic disease education.
• African Population and Health Research CentresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPEP Programme consortium partner for research on health professional education.
• Council of Governors KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through KFBHSC for county health engagement and sustainability transition.
• University of NairobisupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEIS study partner and medical internship training partner.
• Samaritan's PursesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting AIC Kapsowar Hospital for reconstructive surgeries, providing logistics and transport for South Sudanese patients.
• Amref Health AfricasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional PEP Programme coordination with expansion to Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania.
• Action MedeorsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMPACT project partner providing pharmaceutical training support.
• Restoring VisionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding Africa Clear Sight Partnership Project on presbyopia screening and reading glasses provision.
• MEDScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUJTP Jamii Tekelezi implementation partner and Kenya Faith Based Health Services Consortium member.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ): Zambian interdenominational health network coordinating church-run health facilities. Direct peer in model, scale, and donor mix (PEPFAR, Global Fund). Useful comparable for sustainability transition strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN): Global FBO pharmaceutical and supply-chain network running Access Project and IMPACT inside CHAK facilities. Direct peer on pharmaceutical systems strengthening and an active CHAK implementation partner.
• Africa Christian Health Associations' Platform (ACHAP): Continental umbrella for national CHAs across Africa. Functions as both a peer and an ecosystem convener; CHAK is an active member. Useful comparable for cross-country learning and joint advocacy.
• Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) – Catholic Health Commission: Parallel Catholic FBO health network inside Kenya. Direct competitor for donor funding, government MoU engagement, and SHA inclusion — and a CHAK PEP consortium partner in the same geography.
• Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM): National faith-based health association of Protestant and ecumenical churches in Malawi. Closest structural analog to CHAK: membership network of hospitals and health facilities, donor-funded programs, government MoU for service delivery. Same operating model adapted to Malawi's health system.
• Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS): Kenya-based faith-linked pharmaceutical supply chain serving CHAK and KCCB member facilities. Direct peer on supply chain and consortium-level partnerships (KFBHSC).

Others

• World Council of Churches (WCC): Global ecumenical body of which CHAK's member churches are part. Ecosystem peer on advocacy and partnership; not a healthcare delivery competitor but a relevant convener.
• Christian Connections for International Health (CCIH): US-based FBO health network linking faith-based organizations with donors and advocacy. Functions as an ecosystem peer rather than a direct competitor; CHAK is a member.

Broad incumbents

• AMREF Health Africa: Larger, broader African health NGO active across Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania. Overlaps with CHAK on training, NCDs, and community health; broader mandate and deeper donor relationships make it an incumbent benchmark.

Regional players

• Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau (UCMB): Catholic-equivalent network in Uganda coordinating faith-based hospitals. Compares on operating model and UHC engagement; differs in denomination and country, so geography rather than direct competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chak_kenya
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/christian-health-association-of-kenya

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CHRISTIAN HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF KENYA