Cabinet Secretary for Health Hon. Aden Duale today led a high-level consultative meeting focused on the operationalization of the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI), a key initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s public health infrastructure.
Held at the Ministry of Health headquarters, the meeting brought together top technical officials including Principal Secretaries Dr. Ouma Oluga (Medical Services) and Ms. Mary Muthoni (Public Health and Professional Standards), as well as Director General for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth.
The KNPHI will be structured around five strategic pillars: surveillance and health security, emergency preparedness and response, laboratory strengthening, public health research, and public health workforce development.
These pillars are intended to bolster Kenya’s capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to public health threats while advancing the country’s goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
CS Duale underscored the need for a resilient and people-centered health system that earns public trust and delivers measurable outcomes. “The prosperity of any nation is measured by the health of its citizens,” he said, reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to evidence-based policy and professional integrity.
The Cabinet Secretary also highlighted the role of clear, accurate, and transparent communication in driving health sector reforms, particularly in the face of global health risks and rising demand for equitable healthcare services.
The KNPHI is poised to serve as a national center of excellence for public health, setting the stage for stronger coordination across disease surveillance, emergency response, and research, and aligning with Kenya’s broader health sector transformation agenda.
