Kenya is set to become a continental leader in vaccine and pharmaceutical production, following a landmark partnership with China aimed at establishing state-of-the-art local manufacturing hubs by 2028.

This was announced on Monday, June 9, 2025, during a high-level meeting between Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and a Chinese delegation led by China Ammbassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan.

According to Duale, the Ksh65 billion initiative will leverage advanced Chinese technology to strengthen Kenya’s pharmaceutical supply chains, cut dependency on imports, and generate employment.

“This transformative partnership is not just about medicine—it is about sovereignty, security, and sustainability in healthcare,” Duale said.

“We are proud to partner with China to develop capacity that will ensure our people access essential vaccines and medicines manufactured right here at home.”

Kenya’s future pharma hub

The CS said the deal is expected to position Kenya as a pharmaceutical powerhouse in Africa by 2028, producing critical vaccines and medicines domestically.

 He emphasised the strategic value of the project in shielding Kenya from global supply chain disruptions, particularly in times of health crises like pandemics.

“Our goal is to make Kenya the regional hub for health product manufacturing. We want to stop being net importers of health solutions and become producers, exporters, and innovators,” the CS added.

 During the meeting, the Chinese delegation announced an offer of 500 full scholarships for Kenyan students to study health sciences in China, alongside 20 annual exchange programmes for healthcare professionals.

“This is a powerful investment in Kenya’s future leadership in the health sector,” Duale noted.

“Our young professionals will gain world-class knowledge and exposure, enabling us to lead in both practice and policy.”

Duale also proposed the creation of a Kenya–China Health Cooperation Taskforce, which will coordinate implementation, harmonise strategic priorities, and fast-track bilateral agreements. “We want this partnership to be results-driven. A dedicated task force will ensure that what we agree here is delivered on the ground,” he noted.

Donor dependency to Co-Investment

Underscoring Kenya’s shift towards sustainable healthcare financing, Duale urged China to support the country’s transition from donor dependency to co-investment in health innovation.

“We are moving from a model where we wait for aid, to one where we co-invest in solutions that benefit both our nations. Let us innovate together,” he said.

The Cabinet Secretary also briefed the delegation on ongoing reforms under the new Social Health Authority (SHA), a key pillar of the government’s universal health coverage (UHC) plan.

 Duale praised Chinese firms such as Huawei for their continued investment in Kenya’s health infrastructure. “Huawei’s contribution to rural health digitisation and training thousands of health workers shows the true spirit of partnership. We welcome more companies to follow this model,” he said.

The strategic meeting was also attended by the Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, CBS, and the Director-General for Health, Patrick Amoth.

Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale today held a strategic engagement with a Chinese delegation led by Ambassador H.E. Ms. Guo Haiyan to discuss the establishment of local vaccine and pharmaceutical production hubs using Chinese technology.

The USD 500 million… pic.twitter.com/GQSjhKi15L

— Ministry of Health (@MOH_Kenya) June 9, 2025