Kenya News

Nairobi, Kenya - Kenya today inaugurated a newly upgraded World Health Organization (WHO)-accredited polio laboratory at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), marking a major step forward in the country’s efforts to detect and respond rapidly to poliovirus and other epidemic-prone diseases.

Nairobi I Brazzaville I Geneva ‒ The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Kenya as having eliminated human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) or sleeping sickness as a public health problem, making it the tenth country to reach this important milestone. HAT is the second neglected tropical disease (NTD) to be eliminated in Kenya: the country was certified free of Guinea worm disease in 2018.

In 2025, as global health agencies adjusted to tighter budgets, WHO Kenya and the Ministry of Health transitioned to a virtual platform to train health records and information officers in Kenya.

At the busy Kitengela Hospital of Kajiado County in Southern Kenya, nurses Jackline Tabo and Grace Nyangweso bring healing in the quiet rooms where life’s most fragile moments happen. They are proud participants in WHO Kenya’s on-site mentorship, an initiative that’s designed to enhance the quality of sexual and reproductive health services at the point of care.

On April 7, 2025, WHO Kenya joined hands with the Ministry of Health, Kajiado County leaders, health partners, and community members to mark World Health Day. The theme for this year is "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures", focusing on efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths and prioritizing women’s long term health and wellbeing.

At just 20 years old, Esther Wamuhu from Laikipia West is determined to rewrite her future. A few years ago, she had to put her education on hold after an unintended pregnancy. Now, she is ready to return to school, finish her secondary education, and pursue her dream of going to university.

But there was one major hurdle — access to affordable family planning.

Nairobi – After five days of walking door-to-door, visiting churches and attending community gatherings, Margaret Khasiala finally gets to rest in her home in Chekalani, Western Kenya. She is one of 4,250 community health promoters who worked to ensure up to 13 million children across Kenya received medicines to combat neglected tropical diseases. 

Nairobi - The World Health Organization in partnership with the Kenyan Defence Forces organized and trained 30 multidisciplinary medical and paramedical officers as part of the establishment of Kenya’s first Emergency Medical Team (EMT) following WHO standards.

Nairobi – Kenya’s Ministry of Health declared an Mpox outbreak on 31st July 2024 after the first case of a truck driver was detected and isolated in Taita-Taveta county. As of 12th December 2024, 28 confirmed Mpox cases have been reported across 12 counties  with 18 (64.3%) recoveries, 9 (32.1%) admissions and one (1) death, case fatality rate (CFR) of  3.6%

Nairobi – Kenyan health authorities have implemented a raft of preparedness and response measures to swiftly detect and halt the spread of mpox, which was confirmed in the country on 31 July 2024.