China Offers 500 Scholarships and Strategic Health Support to Kenya in New Bilateral Deal
Kenya’s healthcare sector is set for a major boost following a new partnership with China that will see 500 scholarships awarded to Kenyan students pursuing health-related courses. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale made the announcement on Monday, June 9, following a high-level meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, Guo Haiyan.
In addition to the scholarships, the Chinese government will also support 20 annual health exchange programmes designed to enhance the training of Kenyan students and professionals within the health sector. According to CS Duale, these initiatives are pivotal in shaping the future of Kenya’s health leadership and reinforcing the capacity of its healthcare workforce.
“This is a strategic investment in our future,” said CS Duale. “These programmes will lay a strong foundation for leadership in healthcare and improve service delivery across the country.”
While the specific rollout timeline and application criteria for the scholarships and exchange programmes are yet to be released, the Ministry of Health has assured that further details will follow.
Deeper Kenya–China Health Cooperation
The meeting also discussed broader collaborations between the two countries, with a proposal to establish a Kenya–China Health Cooperation Taskforce. The taskforce will be responsible for aligning health priorities, expediting Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), and monitoring the rollout of major reforms such as the Social Health Authority (SHA).
“We are in the middle of sweeping health reforms, and China remains a reliable development partner,” Duale emphasized.
The Ministry highlighted China’s continued contributions to Kenya’s healthcare development, including training for thousands of health workers and support from tech firms such as Huawei, which has helped digitize and equip rural health facilities.
Joint Vaccine and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Hubs
As part of the long-term partnership, Kenya and China also plan to establish local vaccine and pharmaceutical production hubs equipped with advanced Chinese technology. The joint initiative, valued at USD 500 million, aims to:
- Strengthen Kenya’s healthcare supply chain
- Reduce reliance on imports
- Create employment opportunities
- Position Kenya as a regional leader in health product manufacturing
These hubs are expected to be operational by 2028, aligning with the government’s broader development and industrialization goals.
Recent Vaccine Delivery
This announcement comes shortly after the Ministry of Health confirmed the arrival of Polio and Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccines to address the ongoing shortages in healthcare facilities. In a statement issued on June 6, the Ministry assured the public of continued redistribution efforts in collaboration with county governments to ensure equitable access to vaccines across all regions.
