Gov’t allocates Ksh.741M, 30 acres of Kenyatta University land for establishment of WHO regional hub

The government has allocated Ksh.741 million (USD 5 million) and 30 acres of Kenyatta University land to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to support the establishment of the WHOAFRO Regional Emergency Operations and Logistics (OSL) Hub.

The announcement was preceded by a meeting between Public Health Principal Secretary (PS) Mary Muthoni and WHO officials in Nairobi to advance the undertaking aimed at bridging gaps in responding to public health emergencies.

"PS Mary Muthoni, and Mr. Adama Thiam, Head of Operations & Logistics Management at WHO-AFRO, had a productive meeting with Norwegian officials, led by Ambassador for Global Health at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, John-Arne Rottingen, advancing this critical endeavor," the Ministry of Health (MoH) said in a statement.

"Ms. Muthoni noted that the hub holds the promise of a brighter future for emergency response, not only in Kenya but also across the region."

According to MoH, WHO-AFRO is currently managing over 142 ongoing emergencies, including disease outbreaks and humanitarian crises, solidifying its role as the global hub for public health challenges.

"Recognizing the significance of resilient health systems, countries must prioritize healthcare quality even in emergencies. Historically, operations, supply chain management, and logistics have been underfunded, despite constituting over 70% of emergency response efforts," said MoH.

"The establishment of this hub in Kenya promises not only to enhance regional coordination but also to become a center of excellence for emergency operations."