Health CS Adan Duale and World Bank Vice President for Human Development, Mamta Murthi, during a meeting at Afya House on September 10, 2026/HANDOUT
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has sought the World Bank’s support in expanding digital health services and strengthening Kenya’s emergency preparedness as the country advances Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Duale hosted a World Bank delegation led by Vice President for Human Development Mamta Murthi for a bilateral consultative meeting on the Building Resilient and Responsive Health Systems (BREHS) and Kenya Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (KHEPRR) projects.
The two projects are being implemented across all 47 counties, with a particular focus on refugee-hosting and underserved areas. They support primary healthcare, emergency preparedness and response, quality of care and patient safety.
Duale said all Implementation Partner Agreements for the projects had been signed, paving the way for accelerated implementation.
He also briefed the delegation on the government’s ongoing health sector transformation under the Taifa Care Model, including the expansion of the Social Health Authority (SHA).
“So far, 32.6 million Kenyans, or 68% of the population, have been onboarded, with 11,197 healthcare providers contracted and KSh178 billion paid for services rendered,” Duale said.
World Bank Support for Digital Health
A key focus of the meeting was the expansion of digital health infrastructure, particularly in remote and underserved parts of the country.
Duale sought World Bank support to extend connectivity to 2,500 health facilities that currently face limited access to digital infrastructure.
The connectivity is expected to strengthen digital health services and enable more facilities to participate in Kenya’s emerging digital health ecosystem.
The CS also sought support for the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWeNE) initiative, which uses real-time data to identify and target interventions aimed at reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
According to Duale, three of the 20 counties initially identified as having a high burden of maternal and newborn deaths had exited the list six months after the initiative was launched.
Strengthening Local Manufacturing
The meeting also addressed reforms at the Pharmacy and Poisons Board as Kenya works towards achieving World Health Organization (WHO) Maturity Level 3.
Duale said strengthening local manufacturing of health products and technologies remained critical to reducing the country’s reliance on imports.
He noted that approximately 70% of health products and technologies are still imported.
“Building domestic production capacity remains central to our pursuit of UHC and health sovereignty,” Duale said.
He said the agenda was being supported by Kenya’s ratification of the African Medicines Agency Treaty, the launch of the Health Products and Technologies Local Manufacturing Strategic Plan and the upcoming Africa Health Products Manufacturing Summit scheduled for December 3–5.
Call for Better Coordination
Duale commended the World Bank for its longstanding partnership with Kenya and called for closer coordination of development partner support around national health priorities.
He advocated for a “One Plan, One Budget and One Evaluation” approach to improve coordination, transparency, accountability and measurable results in the health sector.
The approach, he said, would help ensure that development partner investments are aligned with Kenya’s health priorities and deliver measurable benefits to citizens.
Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga, SHA CEO Dr Mercy Mwangangi, Digital Health Agency CEO Eng Anthony Lenayara and World Bank Practice Manager Ronald Mutasa were among those who attended the meeting.
The discussions come as Kenya continues to pursue health sector reforms aimed at expanding access to healthcare, strengthening primary healthcare, improving emergency preparedness and accelerating the adoption of digital health technologies across the country.
