KENAS at the 2025 Mater Heart Run: Advancing Quality Healthcare through Accreditation and Compassion
On Saturday, May 31st, 2025, the Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) proudly stood in solidarity with thousands of Kenyans at the Mater Heart Run, an annual event that continues to make a life-saving difference in children’s lives across the country. The event, flagged off at the iconic Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), supports the Mater Cardiac Program, which has provided over 3,000 children from underprivileged backgrounds with free life-saving heart surgeries since its inception in 1996.
A CSR Commitment with Heart
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), KENAS is committed to more than just standards—it is committed to people. Our presence at the 2025 Mater Heart Run was not just symbolic, but a reaffirmation of our belief that quality healthcare must be accessible, accurate, and safe for all.
The heart, after all, is not only an organ—it is a symbol of life. And ensuring every beat counts starts with the integrity of our healthcare systems.
Accreditation: The Pulse of Trustworthy Healthcare
One of the powerful ways KENAS contributes to better health outcomes is by accrediting medical laboratories such as Mater Hospital’s Medical Testing Laboratory. Accreditation to internationally recognized standards, like ISO 15189:2022
, ensures that patients and clinicians can rely on diagnostic results that are accurate, consistent, and timely.
In the context of cardiac care, this means that early detection, monitoring, and follow-up care for heart conditions are backed by competence, rigor, and credibility.
Accreditation is not a checkbox—it's a life-saving enabler. It:
- Supports accurate diagnostics, especially critical in cardiac evaluations.
- Builds public confidence in health systems and the care they deliver.
- Promotes efficiency, accountability, and continuous improvement within healthcare facilities.
More Than a Run, a Lifeline
The Mater Heart Run is more than a charitable event—it is a lifeline for hundreds of children every year. In 2024 alone, the Run raised over Ksh 108 million, directly helping 433 children undergo essential heart surgeries.
This year’s Run carried that mission forward, with renewed energy, community spirit, and a collective desire to give hope to many more children and families.
As we ran, walked, and stood together, we were reminded that accreditation and compassion go hand in hand. Supporting healthcare through international standards is one side of the coin; showing up for causes that heal our society is the other.
Looking Ahead: Quality with a Human Face
At KENAS, we believe that our work only matters when it translates to real-world impact—when it empowers hospitals, strengthens labs, and, ultimately, saves lives. As we continue to accredit healthcare facilities across Kenya and the region, we do so knowing that every standard upheld is a life protected.
