Nanto Med - Blog #KRACON 2026Nanto Med - Blog #KRACON 2026https://med.nanto.com/blogs/tag/kracon-2026Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:12:52 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[KRACON 2026: what it means for Kenyan dialysis units]]>https://med.nanto.com/blogs/post/kracon-2026-takeaways-kenya-dialysis-units

The short answer: KRACON 2026, the Kenya Renal Association's annual scientific conference, ran from 23 to 26 September in Mombasa under the theme "Kidney Health: Beyond Nephrology". Its biggest moment was the launch of Kenya's first national kidney guidelines. For dialysis units, the practical themes were treatment adequacy, access, data and the cost of water and energy.

Nanto Med attended KRACON 2026, and through our Conference Fellowship we sponsored two renal nurses to attend. This post shares what we took away for the people who keep dialysis units running: unit managers, renal nurses and biomedical engineers. It draws on the published programme and the guidelines themselves. It is our reading as a dialysis parts supplier, not clinical advice.

What was KRACON 2026 about?

KRACON 2026 was held at the Pride Inn Convention Centre in Shanzu, Mombasa. The programme described the theme, "Kidney Health: Beyond Nephrology", as a deliberate provocation: nephrologists alone will not secure the future of kidney health. The five sub-themes were:

  • Vision 2030 in kidney disease: are we there yet?
  • Improving access to kidney health services
  • Obtaining and utilising data for kidney health
  • Precision nephrology: every individual matters
  • The interconnected kidney: the kidney in a community of organs

The programme ran from workshops on renal pathology, peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis to sessions on referral, fistula-first practice, peritoneal dialysis policy, green nephrology and transplant. The full KRACON 2026 programme is published by the Kenya Renal Association.

What did the new national kidney guidelines change?

The headline event was the launch, at the opening ceremony on 23 September, of The National Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Kidney Conditions, First Edition 2026. They were developed by the Ministry of Health with the Kenya Renal Association, and the programme billed the launch as the association's first ever guideline launch.

For dialysis units, the most important section is 10.5 on maintenance haemodialysis. The guidelines describe haemodialysis as typically three sessions a week of about 4 to 5 hours, set adequacy targets of a mid-week Kt/V of at least 1.2 or a URR of at least 65% per session and state that twice-weekly schedules are generally insufficient unless there is significant residual kidney function. They also recommend synthetic polymer hollow-fibre dialyzers and set a monthly, 3-monthly and 6-monthly laboratory monitoring schedule.

We have written a separate plain-language summary: Kenya's first national kidney guidelines: what to know.

Why does the number of sessions matter for units?

Because the guidelines now put a clear standard on paper. Three sessions a week is described as typical, and twice-weekly schedules as generally insufficient for most patients. How many sessions are funded is a separate question, set by the Social Health Authority's tariffs (Legal Notice 56 of 2025, as amended). Check the current renal care access rule with SHA or your unit's claims team before planning around a number.

For units, two practical points follow:

  • Measure what you deliver. The guidelines ask dialysis teams to monitor delivered dose routinely. Kt/V and URR records are the evidence base for any conversation about adequacy, with payers or with patients.
  • Do not let machines erode the dose. A machine running with drifting dialysate flow or frequent alarms takes minutes away from treatment, and every session counts.

Patients should discuss their own schedule with their nephrologist. Nothing here suggests changing a prescription.

What did KRACON say about water and energy costs?

The programme included a green nephrology track on the environment and kidney disease, with a session on optimising energy consumption and water saving in haemodialysis. Utilities are a real part of what a dialysis session costs, and water treatment is also a safety issue: an unmaintained water treatment plant is a patient safety risk as well as a cost.

For engineers, the overlap with machine maintenance is direct. On machines such as the Fresenius 4008, the hydraulic circuit's heater, degassing system and balancing chamber all depend on correct inlet pressure and clean filters. A preventive maintenance cycle that checks those pressures protects both the patient and the running costs. Our Fresenius 4008 preventive maintenance guide sets out the manufacturer's checks.

What about peritoneal dialysis and access outside the big towns?

Access was a full sub-theme. The programme included sessions on home dialysis and mobile dialysis, a peritoneal dialysis policy discussion titled "Peritoneal dialysis: are we there yet? PD 1st policy" and a session on when to refer to a nephrologist. The new guidelines also include a section on maintenance peritoneal dialysis (10.6). Wider use of PD depends on reliable supplies and trained staff as well as on policy.

For the dialysis supply chain, the message is that kidney care is moving outwards to counties and closer to patients. Equipment in those settings is further from engineers and parts, which makes planned maintenance and a small local stock of critical spares more important, not less.

What should a dialysis unit do next?

Five things we would put on a unit manager's list after KRACON 2026:

  • Get the guidelines in front of your team. Read section 10.5 together and compare your current schedules, monitoring and dialyzer choices against it.
  • Audit your delivered dose. If you are not recording Kt/V or URR routinely, start.
  • Put every machine on a maintenance calendar. Know each machine's technical safety check interval and order the TSC and maintenance kit before it is due.
  • Stock the parts that stop a machine. For a Fresenius fleet, a spare complete gear pump and a few common valves on the shelf mean a failed part does not have to wait for an import. Our parts sourcing handbook covers how to plan this.
  • Invest in your nurses. Much of KRACON was about skills: fistula care, PD, referral and data. Sending nurses to conferences is one of the most direct ways to build them, which is why we run our Conference Fellowship.

Nanto Med specialises in parts for the Fresenius 4008, 5008 and 6008. If your unit runs these machines and you are planning spares for the year, get in touch.

Frequently asked questions

What is KRACON?

KRACON is the annual scientific conference of the Kenya Renal Association, bringing together nephrologists, renal nurses, researchers, industry and policymakers.

When and where was KRACON 2026?

From 23 to 26 September 2026, at the Pride Inn Convention Centre in Shanzu, Mombasa.

What was the theme of KRACON 2026?

"Kidney Health: Beyond Nephrology", with five sub-themes on Vision 2030, access, data, precision nephrology and the interconnected kidney.

What guideline was launched at KRACON 2026?

The National Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Kidney Conditions, First Edition 2026, developed by the Ministry of Health with the Kenya Renal Association.

Where can I read the KRACON 2026 programme?

The Kenya Renal Association publishes the programme on its website, kenyarenal.org, alongside the national kidney guidelines.

This article is produced by Nanto Med for educational purposes. We are equipment suppliers, not clinicians. Nothing here constitutes clinical guidance. Patients should follow the advice of their nephrologist and dialysis team.

References

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