Nairobi: Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has unveiled the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI), marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to enhance Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through preventive healthcare to strengthen national health security. Established under Legal Notice No. 14 of 2022, KNPHI will serve as Kenya’s central platform for disease surveillance, health research, policy coordination, and rapid emergency response.
According to Kenya News Agency, the institute is expected to streamline public health functions, eliminate duplication, and improve Kenya’s readiness and capacity to respond to health threats. Speaking during the launch at the KICC, Duale emphasized the importance of investing in resilient institutions capable of responding swiftly and effectively to public health challenges. “NPHI provides us with a unified platform to prioritize public health needs, mobilize resources efficiently, build laboratory and workforce capacity, and generate research that w
ill guide our national policies,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary underscored the importance of national public health institutes, noting that they serve as centralized hubs that bring together surveillance, emergency response, health research, and policy coordination under one roof. “I call upon all ministries, departments, agencies, county governments, and non-state stakeholders to rally behind KNPHI’s leadership,” he added.
Duale commended the World Bank, Africa CDC, Amref Health Africa, and the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI) for their technical and financial support in operationalizing KNPHI and urged the Public Service Commission to expedite the approval of human resource instruments to ensure the institute’s full functionality.
World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative Dr. Abdourahmane Diallo reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting Kenya in establishing a robust, independent, and globally connected public health institute that aligns with nationa
l priorities. “National public health institutes are the breathing heart of any country’s health system and serve as the nerve center for disease surveillance, epidemic response, health research, and policy guidance,” Dr. Diallo said.
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Health Committee, Dr. James Nyikal, reaffirmed Parliament’s support in providing a solid legal foundation for KNPHI’s long-term sustainability, saying they are committed to anchoring the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI) in law to ensure it delivers lasting impact. “This launch marks the beginning of a new era for primary health care in Kenya. KNPHI will strengthen disease prevention, unify efforts across the social determinants of health, and become a cornerstone for sustainable health financing,” Dr. Nyikal said.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The State Corporations Advisory Committee (SCAC), Simon Indimuli, stated they have made progress in transitioning all the assets, such as the inventory, which includes software applic
ations and assets contained in statutory registers, like the motor vehicles, land, and staff, from the Ministry of Health to the Kenya National Public Health Institute by law.
Based on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Public Health Institute will be the custodian of the implementation of the pandemic treaty to ensure the protection of lives and livelihoods even when Kenya faces global health problems.
The launch was attended by Principal Secretaries Dr. Ouma Oluga (Medical Services) and Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno (Environment and Climate Change), Chair of the Health Committee in the National Assembly Dr. James Nyikal, Council of Governors CEO Ms. Mary Mwiti, and other senior officials from government and development partners.