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Kenya has been lauded for successful establishment of the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI) a move geared towards strengthening the country’s capacity to safeguard public health and respond to emerging threats.
Speaking during the Inaugural Partners engagement meeting, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Eastern Africa Regional Coordinating Center Regional Director Dr. Lucy Mazyanga noted that the establishment of KNPHI is an achievement that sends a clear signal of leadership, vision, and dedication to protecting the health of both its population and neighbours.
“Allow me to commend the Government of Kenya on the successful establishment of the Kenya National Public Health Institute. This achievement sends a clear signal of leadership, vision, and dedication to protecting the health of your population, and supporting the health of your neighbours. We at Africa CDC have been privileged to walk with you through this journey.” She noted.
Dr. Mazyanga remarked that since as early as 2018, Kenya and Africa CDC have partnered closely to conceptualize, plan, and lay the groundwork for a robust national public health institute. From virtual mentorships to in-country peer learning, policy dialogue, outbreak response collaboration, and strategic technical support, including for Mpox outbreak preparedness, the dual partnership has grown deeper, broader, and more impactful.
“Kenya has not only invested in national public health systems, it has also contributed generously to the regional cause. We are especially grateful that Kenya hosts the Eastern Africa Regional Coordinating Centre of Africa CDC in Nairobi. This is a testament to your longstanding leadership in regional cooperation, and we are proud to have this Centre based in a country so deeply committed to health diplomacy and institutional excellence” she said.
The Kenya National Public Health Institute, Inaugural Partners engagement meeting that brought together multiple stakeholders on board was aimed at presenting the KNPHI to its partners, provide a brief on the strategic plan, communications and coordination with the KNPHI, introduce the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2024 Amendments and discuss opportunities/areas of collaboration.
On her part, KNPHI acting Director General, Dr. Kamene Kimenye recognized the contribution of all their partners in driving progress in Kenya’s public health sector through resource mobilization, capacity building, and technical support.
“Partnerships are the cornerstone of public health. Whether in emergency preparedness, workforce development, or research, your expertise and resources strengthen our collective impact. As we discuss opportunities for collaboration today, I urge us all to think innovatively, can we leverage each other’s strengths to address emerging health threats and build resilience? Let this meeting be a foundation for actionable commitments. Together, we can ensure KNPHI not only meets its goals under the 2023–2027 Strategic Plan but also becomes a model for regional public health excellence” affirmed Dr. Kamene.
Among those who attended the high-level event are the Development Partners in Health Kenya (DPHK) Chair Dr. Serawit Bruck-Landais, Head of Emergency Preparedness Response Cluster at WHO Kenya Dr.Martins Chibueze Livinus, Program Director of disease control and prevention management at Amref Health Africa Dr. George Githuka.
Other organizations present included representatives from the Kenya Red Cross Society, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Africa Field Epidemiology Network – AFENET Kenya, UNHCR, Palladium among others.
Partners play a crucial role in public health security by fostering collaboration, sharing resources and expertise, and strengthening global and local capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats. They assist in strengthening health systems, developing and implementing policies, and addressing specific health challenges, ultimately contributing to improvements in health outcomes and access to healthcare.
The KNPHI mandate is to safeguard the health of all Kenyans in defending against existing and emerging public health threats through surveillance, preparedness, and response.
Since its establishment, the newly elevated Semi Autonomous Government Agency (SAGA) has made strides in operationalizing its functions, transitioning critical services, and aligning with global best practices.
Besides it has conducted various public health preparedness workshops such as Joint External Evaluation (JEE),National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS), States Parties Self-Assessment Annual Reporting (SPAR).
These are tools used within the framework of the IHR to assess and improve a country’s capacity to manage public health emergencies.
According to IHR 2005, all World Health Organization (WHO) member states are obliged to build public health capacities to prevent, detect and respond to potential health threats as well as adhere to reporting requirements on public health threats.
Where public health capacities are under-developed, epidemics such as the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic result in loss of many lives, weak health systems, and heavy economic losses.
