By Dorothy Musyoka
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale today held a high-level strategic engagement with the World Health Organization (WHO), led by Acting WHO Representative to Kenya, Neema Kimambo, to strengthen collaboration in advancing Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.
During the meeting, CS Duale outlined Kenya’s transformative health sector reforms anchored on the Taifa Care Model and sustainable health financing through the Social Health Authority (SHA), noting that over 29 million Kenyans have already been enrolled.
He emphasized that the reforms are central to expanding equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare services across the country.
The Cabinet Secretary highlighted the deployment of 107,000 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) as a key milestone in bringing healthcare closer to households.
He also noted ongoing reforms at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), which are strengthening last-mile delivery of essential health products and technologies, a critical pillar in achieving UHC.
The meeting was briefed on the rollout of the Maternal and Newborn Health Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) and the Every Woman, Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) agenda, targeting high-burden counties to reduce maternal and newborn mortality.
Policy measures such as the bed access rule and the Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety Bill 2025 were also discussed, underscoring government efforts to standardise care, safeguard patient rights and establish a new regulatory authority to strengthen patient safety.
To further deepen collaboration, Duale sought WHO’s technical support in health financing.
“To further deepen collaboration, the Cabinet Secretary sought WHO’s technical support in health financing, regulatory systems strengthening including Kenya’s pursuit of WHO Global Benchmarking Tool Maturity Level 3 (ML3) and the promotion of local pharmaceutical manufacturing,” stated health ministry.
The discussions also underscored WHO’s leadership in health security, particularly in coordinating large-scale epidemic responses and supporting the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) process.
Additional areas of collaboration discussed included evidence generation through a Reproductive Age Mortality Survey (RAMOS), deployment of data science expertise to strengthen maternal and newborn health analytics and normative guidance to harmonise key health laws with international best practices.
The engagement concluded with updates on the upcoming International Maternal Newborn Health Conference and the World Health Summit Regional Meeting, both set to be hosted in Kenya in March and April respectively.
According to the Ministry of health these forums will provide a platform to showcase Kenya’s progress and reaffirm its leadership in advancing Universal Health Coverage.
Hon. Duale was accompanied by Director-General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth, alongside senior Ministry of Health directors and technical leads.