Kenya, Japan reaffirm health partnership with focus on Universal Health Coverage

In a statement released on February 3, the Ministry of Health said the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Medical Services, Ouma Oluga, held a consultative meeting with a Japanese delegation led by Matsuura Hiroshi at Afya House in Nairobi.

According to the ministry, discussions during the meeting focused on Kenya’s ongoing health sector transformation agenda, which is anchored on the attainment of UHC.

A key area of emphasis was the strengthening of local manufacturing of health products and technologies as a strategy to reduce dependence on external supply chains and enhance both national and regional health security.

The two sides explored potential areas of collaboration, including vaccine and biologics manufacturing, technology transfer, skills development, and health innovation.

The ministry noted that these areas align with Kenya’s broader strategy to build sustainable domestic capacity for the production of critical health commodities.

The engagement also reaffirmed what the ministry described as a trusted and longstanding partnership between the Government of Kenya and the Government of Japan in supporting health sector development.

Dr. Oluga expressed Kenya’s appreciation for Japan’s continued support, noting that the discussions reflected a shared commitment to global health security and sustainable health outcomes.

The meeting further underscored the importance of aligning Kenya’s national health priorities with continental and global initiatives, including Africa’s agenda on the local manufacturing of health products and technologies, which is being championed by President William Ruto.

Both parties committed to advancing structured cooperation through technical partnerships, capacity building initiatives, and institutional linkages between Kenyan and Japanese public and private sector actors. The ministry said the engagement concluded with a shared resolve to translate the strong bilateral relationship into practical, impactful, and sustainable initiatives that benefit Kenya, the region, and the global health community.