The Kenyan government is stepping up efforts to advance the country’s health security and sovereignty agenda through upcoming international investment and diplomatic engagements.
Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga recently chaired a strategic planning meeting with the Chairperson of Kenya Vision 2030, the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya BioVax Institute and Ms Rinah Ondego from the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.
The meeting focused on preparing Kenya’s participation in the Africa Capital Markets Week and the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with health security expected to feature prominently in the discussions.
Officials explored ways of presenting Kenya’s health priorities to investors, development partners and members of the diaspora, while seeking to attract capital and expertise into the health sector.
“We must position health security not only as a public health priority, but also as an investment and economic transformation agenda,” Dr Oluga said.
The government is seeking to mobilise funding and talent to expand local pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing, promote health innovation and develop strategic partnerships that can strengthen Kenya’s ability to respond to future health emergencies.
The planned engagements will be held under the theme, “Capital and Talent to Advance Africa’s Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda.”
The programme will bring together stakeholders through a series of high-level roundtables in Nairobi, Washington, D.C., and New York between September 7 and 23, 2026.
According to officials, the meetings will build on the momentum generated during the 80th UNGA while creating opportunities for investors, innovators, policymakers and members of the African diaspora to contribute to the continent’s health agenda.
“Our objective is to mobilise the capital and talent required to strengthen local manufacturing, innovation and resilient health systems across Kenya and Africa,” officials said.
The initiative seeks to shift the continent’s approach to health financing away from overreliance on external aid towards investment, local capacity and greater economic self-reliance.
Oluga said strengthening domestic production and innovation would help Kenya become better prepared for health emergencies while creating economic opportunities.
“The conversation must move from aid dependency towards investment, sovereignty and economic transformation,” he said.
The government believes that stronger local manufacturing, increased investment in health innovation and strategic international partnerships will provide a foundation for a more resilient and self-sufficient health system in Kenya and across Africa.
