On Tuesday, June 27, President William Ruto's Cabinet approved the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, run by billionaires Bill Gates and Melinda French, to set up their operations in Kenya.
Resolutions from the Cabinet meeting seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the Head of State allowed the billionaires to set up the foundation's regional offices in Kenya. The Cabinet observed that allowing Kenya to host the foundation will support his administration in providing quality healthcare.
Ruto also announced that setting up a hosting centre for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will incentivise investors and bolster more collaborations.
"The Cabinet also confirmed the hosting of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Kenya, furthering Government’s commitment to affordable and quality healthcare.
"The importance of working with the private sector in the areas of Universal Healthcare informed the decision to host the Gates Foundation," a despatch from the meeting read in part.
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was founded in 2000 by the two dollar-billionaires to help different communities across the globe access quality and affordable healthcare.
Besides improving healthcare, the foundation is also expected to spur innovations, strengthen global corporations and create market incentives.
By setting up the administrative office in Kenya, President Ruto's administration is also expected to be exposed to data that will help the Kenya Kwanza administration tackle various challenges.
The setting up of the regional office in Nairobi followed a meeting between Ruto and Bill Gates in Nairobi on November 16, 2022.
During the meeting, Ruto announced that the regional office will expand and enhance the Foundation's healthcare, agriculture and ICT work in Kenya.
"We appreciate the Gate's Foundation support for crucial initiatives in Kenya's Health, Agriculture and ICT sectors. We look forward to more collaboration on food security and universal health coverage," Ruto stated.
The Head of State added that Kenya was committed to allocating more resources to community health workers to enhance primary healthcare.
On the other hand, Bill Gates commended the Head of State while imploring him to revitalise Hustler Fund, which he argued was key to financial empowerment.
