Kenya, Japan Deepen Health Cooperation as CS Duale Holds Consultative Meeting on TICAD 9 Outcomes
Nairobi, Kenya - - Health Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Aden Duale held consultations with the Japanese Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. MATSUURA Hiroshi, to review the outcomes of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), a pivotal platform that reaffirmed the shared priorities of the two nations.
The meeting highlighted Kenya’s commitment to leveraging global partnerships anchored on SDG 17 to advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC), strengthen health security, and expand local manufacturing. Guided by the 2021 Memorandum of Cooperation and the Africa Health and Wellbeing Initiative (AfHWIN), Kenya remains aligned with Japan’s vision for Africa’s sustainable development.
The Government is already rolling out key TICAD 9 commitments, including establishing an internal coordination framework within the Ministry of Health. A major step in this direction is the recently signed MoU with Toyota Tsusho Corporation, demonstrating AfHWIN in action through technology transfer, specialised health services, and increased private-sector investment—core pillars of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The Cabinet Secretary reaffirmed Kenya’s determination to grow its local manufacturing ecosystem and position the country as a regional hub for vaccines and pharmaceuticals. Ongoing efforts include fast-tracking the operationalisation of the Kenya Biovax Institute and pursuing Japan’s technical and financial partnership to support technology transfer and attract Japanese pharmaceutical investments under the African Healthcare Investment Promotion Package.
Kenya and Japan also agreed to explore the formation of a Joint Technical Working Group to drive key priority actions, including the implementation of the Toyota Tsusho MoU and enhanced collaboration between the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI) and the Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS).
This strengthened partnership is expected to play a transformative role in improving disease prevention, enhancing laboratory capacity, and reinforcing pandemic preparedness, fully aligned with Kenya’s UHC and health security objectives.
Hon. Duale was accompanied by the Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr Ouma Oluga.