Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale is seeking faster implementation of Kenya’s health programmes.
Health CS Aden Duale wants the lender to align two health programmes with Kenya’s priorities and speed up improvements in service delivery.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has called for faster implementation of two World Bank projects worth approximately Ksh43.5 billion. The programmes support Kenya’s emergency preparedness and Universal Health Coverage agenda.
Duale raised the request during an October 29 meeting with a World Bank delegation led by Manager Ronald Mutasa. Discussions focused on programme delays, better use of resources and priority interventions across the health sector.
He also urged the lender to align its support with national health priorities, particularly health financing and digital health. Duale said healthcare reforms must translate into measurable improvements in services.
What the World Bank projects will support
The Kenya Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (KHEPRR) Project carries funding of Ksh15.6 billion, or $120 million. The six-year programme runs from 2024 to 2030 and aims to strengthen Kenya’s capacity to handle health emergencies.
Its priorities include disease surveillance, laboratory services and medical supplies. It also covers healthcare worker training and vaccine manufacturing as part of efforts to improve preparedness and response.
Meanwhile, the Building Resilient and Responsive Health Systems (BREHS) Project has Ksh27.9 billion, or $215 million, in World Bank financing. Launched in March 2024, it aims to strengthen primary healthcare and improve medical commodity supplies through KEMSA.
The programme also supports health reforms, including the transition to the Social Health Authority. Together, the two initiatives cover routine healthcare delivery and readiness for emergencies.
Duale seeks coordinated delivery and accountability
To accelerate progress, Duale called for coordination under Kenya’s common national plan, budget, and monitoring and evaluation framework. He emphasised that this approach should improve accountability and implementation as the government pursues faster results.
Beyond these programmes, Kenya secured Ksh51.96 billion in World Bank emergency funding earlier in October. That support covers health emergencies and medicines, alongside agricultural inputs, water and sanitation, and assistance to vulnerable households.
Separately, an allocation of more than Ksh259 million through the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs supports Kenya’s Ebola response. The funding covers border surveillance, training for rapid response teams and equipment for frontline health workers.
