Nairobi, May 4 -- Diseases of the respiratory system remained the leading cause of illness reported in Kenya's health facilities in 2025, even as the number of cases declined significantly from the previous year, according to the latest data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.

These diseases include a wide range of conditions-from acute upper respiratory infections to chronic lower respiratory tract illnesses, including asthma and obstructive pulmonary disease. They accounted for 15.4 million cases in 2025, representing 18 per cent of all reported illnesses.

This marks a decrease from 19.9 million cases in 2024, when this category accounted for 25.1 per cent of total morbidity. Pneumonia alone accounted for over 651,500 cases ...