State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards

03/04/2026

03/04/2026

Easter is here!, we are urged to prioritise our health and safety. Let us travel responsibly, observe proper hygiene, consume safe food and water, and celebrate in moderation.

By taking these simple precautions, we can protect ourselves, our families, and our communities.




Wishing you all a safe, healthy, and Happy Easter!

31/03/2026

The Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni today held a meeting with the World Bank to review progress of the Building Resilient and Responsive Health Systems (BREHS) Project and discuss priorities under ongoing health sector reforms.

The meeting focused on accelerating implementation, strengthening county readiness, addressing challenges, and advancing key investments in maternal and neonatal health, including nutrition interventions supported through the Global Financing Facility.

Discussions also highlighted the importance of enhanced coordination, timely resource mobilization, and sustained collaboration to ensure the project delivers on its goal of building a more resilient, responsive, and people-centered health system. The world Bank Team was lead by the Technical Lead, Dr. Peter Okwero.

28/03/2026

The Ambassadors’ Conference is an important space for shaping Kenya’s foreign policy and strengthening our place in a fast-changing global landscape, while ensuring our diplomatic efforts remain aligned with national development priorities.

It brings together Kenya’s Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Consuls-General and Special Envoys, creating a moment to connect, reflect and refocus on delivering meaningful diplomatic outcomes.

Through these engagements, Kenya continues to deepen collaboration with both national and international partners, while advancing a clear and forward-looking approach to protecting and promoting our interests globally.

Today, Ministry of Health leadership joined H.E. President William Ruto at the opening ceremony of the 19th Edition of the Ambassadors’ Conference in Nairobi.

27/03/2026

The Kenya National Institute of Public Health (KNPHI) plays a central role in strengthening Kenya’s public health system through disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and evidence-based decision-making.

In line with this mandate, today we launched key policy documents under KNPHI to advance our country’s health security agenda.

The documents unveiled include the National Strategic Plan (2023–2027) and the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS II; 2026–2030). The launch also introduced practical tools such as the Decision-Making Tool for Public Health Emergencies, the Development of Disease Seasonal Calendars for Public Health Preparedness, and the Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Template.

These frameworks are designed to guide real-time data use, enhance emergency preparedness, strengthen risk communication, and promote a One Health approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health.

The event was presided over by the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale, and attended by the Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Festus Ngeno

26/03/2026

The Ministry of Health is strengthening efforts to improve maternal nutrition by expanding access to multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) for pregnant women.

In a meeting today, the Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, engaged with delegations from the Gates Foundation and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) to discuss support for Kenya’s transition from Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS) to MMS.

The partnership aims to provide technical assistance, financing and community-level support to ensure nationwide rollout, improve adherence and integrate MMS into antenatal care services.

This collaboration is expected to enhance maternal and child health outcomes, positioning Kenya as a model for maternal nutrition initiatives in the region.

The team was led by Zeina Sifri, Senior Program Officer at the Gates Foundation and Shalmali Radha Karnad, Director of Maternal Child Health and Nutrition at CIFF.

26/03/2026

The Ministry of Health today hosted a delegation from the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC), led by Director General Dr. Ntuli Kapologwe, in a session chaired by Health Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Aden Duale.

ECSA-HC is a regional intergovernmental body that supports member states in building resilient health systems, coordinating responses to public health challenges and advancing cross-border collaboration.

The engagement centred on regional cooperation, enhancing health systems, and aligning policies to address shared health priorities.

The discussions also ensured that Kenya’s health strategies are in line with the resolutions of the 76th Health Ministers Conference, particularly emphasizing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the adoption of digital health solutions to transform service delivery.

25/03/2026

The Ministry of Health today held the inaugural meeting of the Joint Health Cooperation Framework Steering Committee, a key step in operationalizing the Kenya–United States government‑to‑government health partnership.

The Health Cooperation Framework is a landmark bilateral agreement that moves from traditional donor‑driven support to a government‑to‑government model, strengthening country leadership, building capacity, and promoting sustainability in key areas such as workforce development, health infrastructure and disease prevention.

The Steering Committee will provide strategic oversight, guide implementation across priority areas and ensure coordination between national and county levels to maximize impact.

The meeting was chaired by Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale and attended by a U.S. delegation led by Ms. Heidi O’Bra, who is spearheading the strategic transition.

24/03/2026

Kenya today joined the global community in marking World TB Day under the theme “Yes! We Can End TB, Led by Government, Driven by Communities,” reaffirming our collective commitment to eliminate tuberculosis and other lung diseases.

As a country, we have made notable progress, with over 90,000 TB cases diagnosed, treated, and reported in 2025.

Additionally, our TB treatment coverage has improved from 77% to 81%, demonstrating the impact of our ongoing investments in Universal Health Coverage and efforts to expand access to TB services across the country.

We have also strengthened TB and HIV integration and expanded access to services, with community driven approaches enhancing early detection, improving treatment outcomes, and reducing stigma.

As we build on these gains, we call on all Kenyans to seek testing and care early, and to work together, as government and communities, to end TB.

The event was presided over by Health Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Aden Duale, and attended by Seme MP Dr. James Nyikal, Chair of the National Assembly Health Committee, among other dignitaries.

23/03/2026

Kenya is this week hosting the 2026 International Maternal and Newborn Health Conference (IMNHC) in Nairobi, bringing together global leaders and experts to advance maternal and newborn survival.

Held under the theme “Moving Forward. Together,” the conference aims to accelerate efforts to end preventable deaths, strengthen collaboration, and expand access to quality care.

Kenya’s commitment is reflected in the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) Acceleration Plan (2026–2028) and the Rapid Results Initiative (RRI), focusing on financing, partnerships, workforce, commodity security and digital transformation.

The four-day conference was officially opened on behalf of President William Ruto by Health CS Hon. Aden Duale, with Ministers of Health including Douglas Tendai Mombeshora (Zimbabwe) and Dr. Dereje Duguma (Ethiopia) among those in attendance.

23/03/2026

The Government of Kenya continues to strengthen efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths through improved health systems, policy reforms, and sustained investment in quality care.

Speaking at a side event hosted by the Ministry of Health during the International Maternal and Newborn Health Conference, Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni outlined progress under the theme, Commitment to Impact: Kenya’s Journey to Ending Preventable Maternal and Newborn Deaths.

She highlighted key interventions including expanded skilled birth attendance, stronger referral systems, investments in health infrastructure and integration of services into primary healthcare, and scaling up community-based care.

Muthoni noted persistent challenges among vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations, calling for targeted, data-driven solutions.

She emphasized the need for stronger collaboration, sustained investment, innovation, and accountability to translate commitments into impact, reaffirming Kenya’s commitment to a resilient, inclusive health system that improves outcomes for mothers and newborns.

18/03/2026

The Government of Kenya continues to strengthen policy and legal frameworks to address both substance use and behavioural addictions, anchored in the constitutional right to the highest attainable standard of health.

Speaking at the ongoing Commission on the Status of Women 70th Session side event hosted by Turkish Green Crescent Society, Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni outlined ongoing efforts to advance gender-responsive interventions, including the expansion of rehabilitation services, integration of mental health into primary healthcare, and the scaling up of community-based support systems that promote recovery, dignity, and reintegration.

The PS highlighted growing burden of behavioural addictions among women and girls noting that in Kenya, the challenge is closely linked to stigma, socioeconomic vulnerability, and limited access to gender-sensitive care,particularly among high-risk populations.

She called for strengthened global collaboration, emphasizing that addressing behavioural addictions requires collective action through partnerships, innovation, and sustained investment. Kenya remains committed to building a resilient and inclusive health system that effectively responds to the unique needs of women, while reducing stigma and ensuring equitable access to care.