Kenya - U.S. Partnership in Strengthening Healthcare Systems

Today, Health CS Dr. Deborah Barasa alongside KEMSA Chair, Hon. Samuel Tunai had the distinct honour of hosting the U.S. Congressional Delegation led by House Foreign Affairs Committee member Joseph T. Foltz at the National Supply Chain Centre, Embakasi. 

This visit reaffirmed the longstanding and robust collaboration between Kenya and the U.S. in advancing health systems, ensuring the availability of essential medical commodities, and driving impactful public health interventions. The contributions of U.S. agencies such as USAID, CDC and PEPFAR have been instrumental in supporting Kenya’s healthcare landscape.

Key focus of discussions was Kenya’s vision for self-reliance in health commodity procurement and local manufacturing, the steps to expand its pharmaceutical and medical supply manufacturing sector by incentivizing private-sector investment and aligning with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agenda. 

The CS called for deeper collaboration with U.S. partners in key areas such as technology transfer, strengthening supply chains, increasing investment in local pharmaceutical manufacturing and enhancing market access for Kenyan-produced health products. Enhancing these partnerships will be instrumental in driving sustainable healthcare solutions for Kenya and the region.