Kenya Launches its NPHI to Advance Public Health Security
On May 8, 2025, the Government of Kenya launched the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI) in a colorful ceremony that brought together local and regional stakeholders at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre KICC. Speaking during the event, the Honorable Aden Duale, Health Cabinet Secretary, noted that the unveiling of KNPHI marks a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to enhance Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and strengthen national security. KNPHI will serve as the country’s central platform for health security including disease surveillance, public health research, policy coordination, and rapid emergency response.
Hon. Duale said, “National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) are so vital. Around the world, NPHIs serve as centralized hubs that bring together surveillance, emergency response, health research, and policy coordination under one roof. They eliminate duplication of efforts, align national policies with international standards such as the WHO’s International Health Regulations (IHR), and ensure that public health threats are managed quickly, effectively, and comprehensively. It is within this context that I am proud to announce the official launch of the KNPHI.”
Dr. Kamene Kimenye, acting KNPHI Director General, said, “We are in an era of emerging and re-emerging public health threats. Public health functions are best served when there is a single focal point. I applaud all of those who have previously engaged in the discussions about functionality of Kenya’s NPHI and, in particular, the utmost goodwill that the country’s leadership has provided towards realisation of this dream. I also thank the partners who have provided diverse resources and expertise to address Kenya’s health challenges.”
Dr. Kamene noted that a core role of an NPHI is to provide accurate, timely information and data analysis, including on the evolving epidemiology of outbreaks and on the status of outbreak control. Its critical function in areas such as epidemic preparedness and translational research—advancing basic science discoveries more quickly and efficiently into practice—must be recognized with appropriate funding and support.
KNPHI was established on paper on January 18, 2022 by former President Uhuru Kenyatta through a gazette notice, Legal Notice No. 14, under the State Corporation Act CAP 446. However, KNPHI has not functioned as an independent entity until now.
Recent actions to make KNPHI a reality have included transitioning functions, staff, and critical assets related to IHR, the Pandemic Treaty, and other bilateral and multilateral agreements from the Ministry of Health to KNPHI. The move will see 13 divisions transition from Ministry of Health (MoH) to KNPHI. Examples of functions transferred to KPHI are management of the public health emergency operations centre, disease surveillance, port health, food safety, and field epidemiology and laboratory training programs.
In launching KNPHI, Kenya is building upon decades of partnership with many countries and organizations, including 40 years of partnership with the United States government and longstanding relationships with the World Health Organization. The government of Kenya has been working for nearly two decades with the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI).
Important recent contributions to KNPHI’s development include a planning workshop in Nairobi in 2020, which was sponsored by the U.S. CDC and supported by IANPHI. In 2024, a high-level delegation from Kenya visited the U.S. CDC and participated in a planning workshop at IANPHI .
Launching of the KNPHI is part of the Government of Kenya’s dedication to accelerating attainment of universal health care (UHC) as part of the President's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which is focused on enhancing socio-economic development. UHC aims at ensuring that all Kenyans access and receive essential quality health services without suffering financial hardship. KNPHI will make major contributions to achieving better health for Kenyans.