The government has issued a warning on the ongoing threat of malaria’s enduring grip, with the country recording more than five million cases in 2024 alone.

Speaking during an event in Kwale on behalf of Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, the Director of Preventive and Promotive Healthcare at the Ministry of Health, Joseph Lenai, said malaria hotspots remain concentrated in counties surrounding Lake Victoria, Turkana, and Kwale.

“Over 70% of our population remains at risk. Malaria continues to hinder our socio-economic development keeping children out of school, reducing productivity, and increasing household healthcare costs,” Lenai said.

Despite the continuing burden, Lenai highlighted notable progress. Over the past decade, national malaria prevalence has fallen from 8% to 6%, thanks to the uptake of key interventions.

In 2023/2024 alone, the government distributed 14.6 million insecticide-treated nets across 24 counties, including Kwale. Kenya has also initiated the rollout of a malaria vaccine targeting young children, the group most vulnerable to severe disease.

The Ministry of Health is also embracing innovation, investing in digital training for healthcare workers and strengthening cross-border cooperation. Lenai pointed to ongoing joint efforts with Uganda under the Great Lakes Malaria Initiative (GLMI) to tackle the disease along shared borders.

Health Cabinet Secretary Duale, through Lenai, emphasized that the government, in conjunction with county administrations and development partners, remains committed to sustaining preventive measures.

Representing the private sector, Roneek Vora, a member of End Malaria Council (EMC) Kenya and Director of Sales & Marketing at Revital EPZ Ltd, called for relentless action to meet Kenya’s goal of eliminating malaria by 2030.

“This fight is too big for the government alone. We need a whole-of-society approach of public, private, and community actors working in lockstep,” Vora said.

Vora also highlighted the growing role of the private sector, citing the establishment of Africa’s largest rapid diagnostic test (RDT) manufacturing facility in Kenya. The plant produces up to 20 million test kits per month for diseases such as malaria, HIV, and hepatitis, creating 200 full-time jobs, 80% of which are held by women, including individuals with speech and hearing impairments.

“Malaria is not just a health issue, it is a development issue. We are seeing what’s possible when the government, communities, and the private sector work together,” Lenai added. “

The Cabinet Secretary also lauded the support of partners including The Global Fund, WHO, USAID, UNICEF, EMC, ALMA, ZMCC, PATH, CRS, KEMRI, and AMREF, acknowledging their tireless efforts in the fight against malaria.

This year’s commemoration theme, Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite encourages innovative strategies to tackle persistent challenges, particularly in East Africa. Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, which border Lake

Victoria, together accounted for nearly 10 percent of all global malaria cases in 2022, recording an estimated 23.8 million infections and more than 53,000 deaths.

Despite notable gains, health officials warned that progress remains fragile. Gilbert Wangalwa, Deputy Country Director at Amref Health Africa in Kenya, noted that malaria remains one of the leading causes of illness and death, particularly among children under five and pregnant women.

“Only 41% of global malaria financing needs are met. In Kenya, heavy reliance on external funding makes our progress vulnerable,” Wangalwa said.

Kenya’s battle against malaria has seen impressive results: national prevalence dropped from 8% in 2015 to 6% by 2020, while reported cases fell from a peak of 9.2 million in 2007 to 5.6 million in 2023. Malaria, once responsible for nearly a third of all outpatient consultations, now accounts for just 16%, according to the Ministry of Health.

However, officials warned that these hard-won gains could stall or even reverse without sustained investment and a renewed national commitment to ending malaria once and for all.