President Ruto Reaffirms Kenya’s Commitment to Africa’s Health Sovereignty and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Agenda
Nairobi, Kenya - - H.E. President William Ruto reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to advancing Africa’s health sovereignty and pharmaceutical manufacturing agenda during the high-level African Initiative for Medical Access and Manufacturing (AIM2030) breakfast meeting held on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi.
The meeting brought together Government leaders, development partners, private sector executives, and global health stakeholders to discuss strategies for strengthening Africa’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, medical innovation ecosystem, and resilient healthcare systems.
In his address, President Ruto noted that although Africa carries nearly 25 per cent of the global disease burden, the continent continues to produce less than 6 per cent of its medical supplies and only a small proportion of the vaccines and pharmaceuticals it consumes.
He observed that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed Africa’s overreliance on external supply chains and highlighted the urgent need to establish integrated and self-sustaining manufacturing ecosystems capable of responding effectively to future health emergencies.
The President called for accelerated implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), operationalisation of the African Medicines Agency (AMA), and coordinated continental investment strategies aimed at harmonising regulation, unlocking scale, and creating predictable markets capable of attracting sustainable private sector investment.
President Ruto further noted that Africa’s pharmaceutical market is projected to expand significantly by 2030, presenting opportunities to improve healthcare access while driving industrialisation, innovation, job creation, and broader economic transformation across the continent.
He described AIM2030 as a practical delivery platform focused on expanding equitable access to quality medical products, strengthening health systems, and accelerating local manufacturing capacity in line with the African Union Agenda 2063 aspirations.
The Head of State reaffirmed Kenya’s readiness to play a leading role in the continental agenda by positioning itself as a regional hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing, health innovation, and medical supply chains through strategic investments, regulatory reforms, and infrastructure development.
President Ruto also highlighted Kenya’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its pharmaceutical ecosystem, including enhancing the capacity of the national regulatory framework to meet international standards and foster confidence in locally manufactured medical products.
He further urged governments, development partners, and private sector actors to move from commitments to implementation by investing in scalable and bankable projects capable of transforming Africa’s healthcare landscape.
The President noted that Africa possesses the scientific talent, workforce, market potential, and political goodwill necessary to build a resilient and self-sustaining health ecosystem capable of serving present and future generations.
Through AIM2030, President Ruto affirmed that Africa is taking deliberate steps towards building a healthcare future that is designed, manufactured, and sustained by Africans for Africa.