Kenya has taken a major stride in strengthening its public health system with the official launch of the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI). Speaking at the event held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC), Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale announced the transition of 13 critical divisions and programs including Disease Surveillance, Emergency Operations, Zoonotic Disease Management, Health Informatics, and National Public Health Laboratories into the new institute.
“This marks a significant and historic transformation in how we coordinate public health in our country,” said CS Duale, emphasizing KNPHI’s role in enhancing Kenya’s capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to public health emergencies.
The formation of KNPHI is designed to centralize and streamline public health services, ensuring better coordination and faster responses to outbreaks and health threats. According to Duale, the institute will serve as a unified platform to identify public health priorities, mobilize resources, enhance workforce and laboratory capabilities, and guide policy through research.
“KNPHI provides us with a unified platform to prioritize public health needs, mobilize resources efficiently, build laboratory and workforce capacity, and generate research that will guide our national policies,” he added.
CS Duale also highlighted the importance of national public health institutes in aligning local policies with global standards such as the World Health Organization’s International Health Regulations. By eliminating fragmented approaches and fostering data-driven decision-making, KNPHI is expected to transform the country’s public health landscape.
To support full operationalization, the CS urged the Public Service Commission to expedite the approval of human resource frameworks for the institute. He also called on ministries, agencies, county governments, and non-state actors to rally behind KNPHI’s leadership.
“Our collective action must support this important institution through the office of its Director General,” he stressed.
The launch of KNPHI marks a critical milestone in Kenya’s efforts to build a resilient, responsive, and integrated public health system that is capable of safeguarding the health of its citizens in the face of current and future health threats.
