Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has ordered the reorganisation of 13 major divisions and programmes within the Ministry of Health, transferring them to the newly launched Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI).
Speaking during the launch of the KNPHI, Duale stated that the institute will focus on enhancing public health security, a critical pillar of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Among the departments to be moved are the National Public Health Laboratories, Zoonotic Disease Management, Disease Surveillance, and Emergency Health Operations.
According to Duale, the changes will be part of the government's efforts to strengthen Kenya's health sector and build a resilient system that stimulates social and economic growth.
As part of the changes, the hundreds of civil servants will now be answering to the Director General of the KNPHI.
In an effort to support the transition, the CS urged the Public Service Commission to fast-track the approval of human resource frameworks for KNPHI and called on all ministries, agencies, counties, and non-state actors to align with the institute’s leadership and support its mission.
''To complete the transition and ensure full operational capacity, I urge the Public Service Commission to fast-track the approval of human resource instruments for KNPHI,'' Duale stated.
''Furthermore, I call upon all ministries, departments, agencies, county governments, and non-state stakeholders to rally behind KNPHI’s leadership. Our collective action must support this important institution through the office of its Director General.''
In his address, the CS pointed to the importance of National Public Health Institutes, noting that they serve as centralised hubs that bring together surveillance, emergency response, health research, and policy coordination under one roof.
Meanwhile, to support the transition of the civil servants and the programs, National Assembly Health Committee Chairperson James Nyikal announced that the parliamentarians will pass additional laws to anchor the KNPHI.
Further, the lawmaker expressed optimism in the reorganisation, maintaining that it will strengthen disease prevention and help promote sustainable health financing.
''We are committed to anchoring the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI) in law to ensure it delivers lasting impact. It will strengthen disease prevention, unify efforts across the social determinants of health, and become a cornerstone for sustainable health financing. This launch marks the beginning of a new era for primary health care in Kenya," Nyikal stated.
