Health Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale in a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Guo Haiyan on June 9, 2025. /ADEN DUALE/XKenya and China have entered into a strategic partnership to establish a $500 million (Sh64.5 billion) vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Kenya, leveraging advanced Chinese technology to enhance local production and health resilience.
The initiative was announced during a high-level meeting on Monday, June 9, between Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and Chinese Ambassador Guo Haiyan.
Also present at the meeting were the Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, and the Director General for Health, Dr Patrick Amoth.
Aimed at strengthening Kenya’s capacity to produce essential health products locally, the facility marks a significant step in the country's healthcare development.
“The $500 million (Sh64.5 billion) transformative joint initiative seeks to strengthen Kenya’s supply chains, reduce import dependency, and create employment in line with the government’s development agenda,” Duale said.
Expected to be completed by 2028, the project will bolster Kenya’s health security, cut reliance on imports, generate jobs, and position the country as a continental leader in health product manufacturing.
The partnership underscores the shared commitment of both nations to promote sustainable health development and innovation.
The facility will serve as a cornerstone in building robust supply chains and ensuring timely access to life-saving medicines and vaccines for Kenyans and the broader region.
In addition to the manufacturing investment, China has pledged 500 scholarships and 20 annual health exchange programmes to support the growth of Kenya’s healthcare workforce and future leadership.
CS Duale highlighted the importance of shifting from donor-driven aid to co-investment models that reinforce local innovation and health infrastructure.
He also proposed the establishment of a Kenya–China Health Cooperation Taskforce to align priorities, streamline bilateral agreements, and oversee the effective implementation of the initiative.
The Cabinet Secretary further briefed the Chinese delegation on Kenya’s ongoing health sector reforms, including the rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA), which is central to achieving universal health coverage.
He also commended Chinese firms such as Huawei for their support in digitising rural health facilities and training healthcare workers.
This landmark partnership marks a new chapter in Kenya–China health diplomacy, laying the foundation for a more self-reliant, innovative, and equitable health system in Kenya.
