Aden Duale pushes for digital reforms in health sector
By Joel Masibo, September 16, 2025Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has asked key players in the country’s health sector to utilise technology in service delivery.
Duale emphasised the digital reforms within the health sector after presiding over the signing of a cooperation agreement on Health Products and Technologies Commodity Security between the Ministry of Health, Digital Health Agency, Social Health Authority, KEMSA, and National Referral Hospitals on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
The Health CS further called for KEMSA’s strict adherence to quality standards. Aden Duale also urged hospital CEOs to adopt an automated end-to-end supply chain strategy under the ministry’s digital health agenda. He explained the importance of utilising digital skills in the country’s health department.
”This will accelerate track-and-trace, enhance transparency, improve stock management, and ensure timely delivery of essential medicines. The cooperation fast-tracks Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by advancing health financing, integrated digital systems, workforce capacity, and commodity security,” Duale said.
Additionally, Aden Duale reassured stakeholders of the government’s commitment to recapitalise KEMSA with Ksh1.5 billion and finalise a Ksh10 billion credit line for sustainable procurement.
”Kenya remains on course to deliver affordable, accessible and quality healthcare for all, with a strong focus on grassroots equity,” Aden Duale said.
Polio Laboratory unveiled
Earlier in the day, Aden Duale unveiled the expanded Polio Laboratory at KEMRI’s Centre for Virus Research in Nairobi, aimed at strengthening Kenya’s compliance with International Health Regulations (IHR) and advancing global health security.
Serving as both the national and inter-country reference laboratory, the facility will support Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea and Comoros in polio diagnostics, surveillance, and genomic sequencing, cutting turnaround times and boosting outbreak preparedness.
In the Tuesday meeting, the Cabinet Secretary was joined by Medical Services PS Dr Ouma Olunga, Director General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth, CEOs Dr Richard Lesiyampe (KNH), Dr Philip Kirwa (MTRH), Dr Zainab Gura (KUTRRH), Dr Lawrence Nderi (MNTRH), Dr Peter Muiruri (MKRH), Dr Waqo Ejersa (KEMSA), Dr Mercy Mwangangi (SHA), Eng Anthony Lenayara (DHA), and Dr Abdi Mohamed (Chairperson-SHA), among other dignitaries.