Nairobi, Kenya – May 2025 – A pivotal step toward accelerating health system transformation in Kenya was taken today during a high-level meeting between Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale and the leadership of Amref Health Africa. In a strong endorsement, the Cabinet Secretary recognised Amref as a core strategic partner and a pillar in the country’s journey toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“Amref is not just a globally recognised health organisation; it’s a homegrown leader whose innovations have set sustainable trends across Africa and beyond. If these solutions are transforming health globally, they should be adapted and scaled to serve our communities in Kenya. The Ministry is ready to walk this journey with Amref to ensure these locally rooted solutions help strengthen and transform our health system,” said CS Aden Duale.
The meeting underscored Amref’s deep alignment with Kenya’s national health priorities, particularly its TRANSFORM Strategy (2023–2030), which places people at the centre of care and focuses on primary health care (PHC), digital innovation, and community-led approaches.
The CS commended the strong alignment with national health priorities, highlighting the rollout of 225 Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and digitisation of community health, supporting over 100,000 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) as transformative milestones. He called for continued collaboration to align training curricula, formalise supervision structures, and institutionalise community health as a cornerstone of service delivery. Additionally, he acknowledged the training of over 5,000 health professionals and more than 10,000 frontline workers annually, urging that these efforts be fully integrated into the Social Health Authority (SHA) framework and scaled to address critical workforce gaps, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions (ASALs).
On maternal health, CS Duale raised alarm over persistently high mortality rates, particularly in coastal and northeastern Kenya, stating that the cumulative burden from these regions significantly drags down the country’s overall indicators, placing Kenya’s maternal outcomes at up to four times worse than those of neighbouring Tanzania. With an average of 355 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, Kenya continues to face a significant challenge, with some counties carrying a disproportionately high burden that demands targeted, data-driven interventions. He reiterated the urgent need for greater accountability among health workers and called for maternal health to be elevated as a national conversation.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to building a national digital health superhighway, recognising digital innovation as a critical enabler of Universal Health Coverage. The Cabinet Secretary emphasised the importance of strengthening systems such as the electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS), expanding virtual learning platforms, and advancing telemedicine solutions through collaborative efforts. He also underscored the potential of innovative models, such as Uber-style ambulances, and called for their evaluation and integration into Kenya’s national emergency response framework through strategic partnerships.
Hon. Duale acknowledged the progress made through collaborative efforts in implementing the Facility Improvement Fund (FIF) across 43 counties, contributing to a significant increase in county Own Source Revenue, from USD 46 million to USD 146 million. He urged development partners to support the rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA), accelerate enrolment of informal sector populations, align primary care delivery models with national policy frameworks, and mobilise public-private partnerships to strengthen infrastructure, diagnostics, and service delivery at the primary health care level.
In addition to financial reforms, the Cabinet Secretary highlighted the importance of securing essential health commodities as a cornerstone of health system resilience. He acknowledged the vital role of the Global Fund and other development partners in improving access to medical supplies, including oxygen and malaria commodities.
“We appreciate the unwavering support of the Global Fund in enhancing health commodity security across the country, from oxygen availability to malaria case management. These investments have not only saved lives but are laying the groundwork for a truly resilient health system. It is exciting to see how communities in hard-to-reach areas like Lamu are now within reach of the promise of Universal Health Coverage,” said Hon. Duale.
To date, Kenya has benefited from the installation of 22 oxygen plants and 3-ton tanks in 14 counties, the distribution of over 20,000 oxygen cylinders across all 47 counties, and oxygen piping in 303 health facilities. Additionally, community-level malaria case management, including diagnosis, treatment, and referral, has been significantly strengthened in high-burden counties.
Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Githinji Gitahi, Group CEO of Amref Health Africa, reinforced the Ministry’s vision by calling for a shift from siloed approaches to bold systems redesign. He proposed the formation of intersectoral committees at both county and national levels to drive coordinated investments across key sectors such as water and sanitation, climate resilience, education, nutrition, social protection, agriculture, and urban planning—sectors critical to reducing the burden of preventable diseases and building a more resilient, people-centred health system.
Dr. Gitahi also reaffirmed Amref’s commitment to championing the Ministry of Health in its ambition to achieve zero maternal deaths in high-burden counties by leveraging the Maternal Big Bet Initiative implemented in partnership with Safaricom and the counties themselves, alongside other key collaborators. “Achieving this goal requires a data-driven approach that leverages AI-powered analytics within health management systems to deliver timely, targeted, and high-impact interventions,” he noted. “We already have countless solutions delivering impact, but real progress demands structural change. Health is not just a service, it is the foundation of national development and must be governed and resourced accordingly.”
To formalise this renewed collaboration, Hon. Duale proposed the establishment of a joint working group to identify priority areas, monitor progress, and report outcomes through government platforms.
Amref extends its deep appreciation to the development partners and philanthropic institutions who continue to invest in Kenya’s health system transformation. Notably, support from the Global Fund, CDC, Africa CDC, Johnson & Johnson, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UKAid/FCDO, the END Fund, CIFF, USAID, UNICEF, Gavi, and ELMA Philanthropies, among others, has underpinned the sustainability, reach, and innovation behind many of the milestones celebrated today.
Notes to Editors:
About Amref Health Africa
Amref Health Africa, headquartered in Kenya, is the largest Africa-based international health and development organisation providing training and health services to over 10 million people annually in at least 30 countries across Africa. Founded in 1957 as the Flying Doctors of East Africa to bring critical health services to remote communities, Amref Health Africa continues to evolve and innovate its approaches to increase sustainable health access among communities.
Amref manages a full range of medical and public health programmes tackling the most critical health challenges facing the continent, including global health emergencies, communicable and non-communicable disease, neglected tropical diseases, maternal and child care, as well as water, sanitation and climate change. Much of our credibility with local communities and African governments stems from the relationship and trust that we have built over the past 65 years. Our subsidiaries include: Amref Flying Doctors and the Amref International University.
Media Contacts:
- Edna Mosiara, Communications Lead, Amref Health Africa in Kenya: [email protected]