Kenya advocates for more investment in Africa’s health self-reliance

KENYA—Kenya has called on African countries to turn the continent’s health agenda into concrete investments, measurable results and stronger systems that reduce reliance on external support.

Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale made the call during a plenary session of the 76th WHO Regional Committee for Africa, where Member States discussed A New Era of Health for Africa: United Action for Vision 2035.

WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi presented the strategy during a session chaired by Ethiopia’s Minister for Health, Dr. Mekdes Daba.

Kenya endorsed the strategy, saying it aligns with ongoing efforts to develop a resilient, accessible and sustainable health system.

However, CS Duale said Africa must translate its commitment to health self-reliance into action, focusing on sustainable health financing, local manufacturing and digital transformation.

On health financing, he urged African governments to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation and increase fiscal allocations to health.

He said countries cannot continue to depend heavily on external financing to sustain essential health services.

He highlighted Kenya’s Taifa Care programme under the Social Health Authority, which has enrolled more than 32 million people and is strengthening domestic financing for primary healthcare.

CS Duale also called on the WHO Regional Office for Africa to help countries develop stronger health investment cases and facilitate joint engagements between Health and Finance Ministers to secure sustainable domestic funding.

Expanding local pharmaceutical manufacturing

On local manufacturing, CS Duale highlighted Kenya’s ratification of the treaty establishing the African Medicines Agency and encouraged other Member States to accelerate the ratification process.

He said a stronger continental regulatory framework, combined with pooled procurement and joint regulatory approvals, would create predictable demand for locally manufactured medicines and expand opportunities for African pharmaceutical companies.

“Health product sovereignty will ultimately be built through procurement and sustained demand, not declarations alone,” he said.

Advancing digital health

Kenya also outlined progress in digital health, including the development of an integrated national architecture linking health facilities, claims management systems and national health registries.

These digital platforms are also supporting community-level healthcare through more than 107,000 Community Health Promoters.

In addition, Kenya backed the establishment of a regional health data hub based on interoperable standards, strong data governance and systems owned and trusted by Member States.

The proposed approach would strengthen the continent’s ability to manage and protect its health data.

CS Duale reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to working with the WHO Regional Director and other Member States to implement the regional strategy and strengthen Africa’s health systems.

Kenya’s delegation included Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union H.E. Galma Boru; Director-General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth; Digital Health Agency CEO Eng. Anthony Lenaiyara; and Director of Health Sector Coordination and Intergovernmental Relations Dr. Omar Albush.

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