Kenya, US Deepen Collaboration to Accelerate Universal Health Coverage

𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢, 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 - 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

The Ministry of Health is exploring new areas of collaboration with the United States government to scale up Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale, alongside National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary Hon. John Mbadi, held a high-level engagement with a US delegation led by Ms. Susan Burns, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy, at the National Treasury in Nairobi.

Discussions centred on sustainable health financing, strengthening critical health sectors, and advancing UHC through strategic partnerships. A key focus was joint action against global health threats under the Global Health Security (GHS) framework, with Kenya identified as a priority country for enhanced cooperation.

Hon. Duale highlighted ongoing reforms in the health sector, including the digitisation of health systems to fast-track UHC delivery, decisive action against unqualified medical practitioners, and measures to curb fraud within the Social Health Authority (SHA).

The meeting also reviewed supply chain sustainability, transition programmes aligned to domestic systems, and the role of partnerships in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17 to support the Taifa Care Model.

Both governments commended the historic US–Kenya health partnership spanning malaria, HIV, and disease surveillance. They agreed to establish a Joint Technical Working Group to drive collaboration and strengthen national health systems.

Also present were Principal Secretaries Dr. Ouma Oluga (Medical Services), Ms. Mary Muthoni (Public Health and Professional Standards), and Dr. Chris Kiptoo (National Treasury), among other senior officials.