India and Kenya explore partnership in traditional medicine ahead of summit

Health CS Aden Duale hosts India High Commissioner Adarsh Swaika, on December 9, ahead of the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit set for December 17-19 in New Delhi/HANDOUT

India and Kenya have moved to strengthen cooperation in traditional medicine ahead of a global health summit in New Delhi.

 The Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine is scheduled from December 17–19 and Kenya will have a high-level delegation led by Health CS Aden Duale.

Duale held talks with India High Commissioner Adarsh Swaika at Afya House ahead of the WHO Summit, where he said Kenya aims to learn from India's progress in traditional medicine too showcase  Africa’s own rich traditional medicine heritage.

The CS said Kenya will work with India and the WHO to strengthen evidence, improve standards and advance Universal Health Coverage.

"I emphasised the long-standing Kenya–India partnership, which has improved patient care through specialised treatment, pharmaceutical collaboration and joint training programmes," he said. 

The Summit, themed “Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-being,” will bring global focus to evidence-based integrative healthcare systems.

Co-hosted by WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre and India's Ministry of Ayush, the Summit will explore how traditional knowledge frameworks can support holistic, accessible and sustainable health solutions.

While Kenya does not have an officially recognised traditional medicine system under governmental regulation, the presence of Ayush practitioners, along with one Ayurveda Kenya Holistic Health Clinic and one Ayush Holistic Centre in Nairobi, reflect growing interest in Indian traditional systems.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s family is among prominent Kenyans who have opted for the treatment.

Raila was in India in October for the Ayurvedic treatment following care for other conditions in Mumbai, but tragically passed away from a cardiac arrest during his stay.

The Odinga family had a prior positive experience with Ayurveda after Rosemary Odinga, Raila's daughter, successfully received treatment there and regained his vision.

At the 2023 Ayush Summit, India Prime Minister Narendara Modi, who was a close ally of Raila, spoke aboute Rosemary’s experience.

"“As a father, Odinga searched high and low, went to various places, but the attempts were unsuccessful. Finally, he found some promise here in India. He had become so emotional and spoke about their struggles after his daughter, post-surgery, lost her vision. After receiving treatment in India, she has regained her vision and her father told me that those were the golden moments when she could see," he said.

Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of Ayush and the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said India and Kenya share a long-standing partnership rooted in people-to-people connections and cultural affinity.

“As we come together for the WHO Global Summit in New Delhi, we look forward to deepening our dialogue and exploring avenues for advancing evidence-based traditional medicine to support accessible and holistic healthcare,” Jadhav.

Ministry of Ayush secretary Vaidya Kotecha said Kenya’s interest in Ayurveda and Yoga demonstrates the global relevance of India’s traditional knowledge systems.

“Our engagements, including academic and institutional exchanges, reflect a shared commitment to building capacities, encouraging scientific understanding and expanding collaborative frameworks aligned with WHO’s Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–34,” she said.

Duale said Kenya now plans to expand structured training, fellowships and skills transfer in priority areas such as oncology, nephrology, biomedical engineering, mental health and vaccine technology to build a more skilled and responsive health workforce.

Ayush systems continue to gain visibility in Kenya, with Ayush practitioners actively treating through the Ayurveda Kenya Holistic Health Clinic and the Ayush Holistic Centre in Nairobi.

The centres contribute to integrative healthcare delivery and strengthening the footprint of traditional Indian medicine in the region. The International Day of Yoga is also celebrated every year in Kenya with much enthusiasm with participation from all walks of life.

The 2025 WHO Global Summit in New Delhi will provide an important platform for both nations to revisit collaborative pathways and explore new frameworks for advancing integrative and evidence-based traditional medicine globally.