PS Oluga Calls for Integrated Health Investments
Nairobi, Kenya - 6 Nairobi 2026 - Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga has called for stronger collaboration between the Government and the private sector to deliver sustainable investments that strengthen health systems and respond to Kenya’s evolving healthcare needs.
Speaking at a high-level stakeholder engagement convened by the Safaricom Foundation and M-PESA Foundation at the JW Marriott Hotel in Nairobi, Dr. Oluga said philanthropic investments should align with Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage reforms and support long-term, county-owned solutions that can be scaled nationally.
The engagement brought together leaders from Government, development partners, academia, civil society and the private sector to help shape the Foundations’ future health investments and identify areas where their support can achieve the greatest impact over the next decade.
Dr. Oluga identified maternal and newborn health and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases as key investment priorities. He called for increased support for quality infrastructure, diagnostics, medical equipment, oxygen systems, blood services, emergency referrals and the health workforce.
He proposed an integrated demonstration programme combining fully functional maternal and newborn centres, non-communicable disease centres of excellence, digital connectivity, referral systems, equipment maintenance, commodity security and county co-financing.
The Principal Secretary emphasised the central role of digital health in enabling real-time referrals, teleconsultations, ambulance coordination, equipment monitoring, continuity of care and better clinical decision-making.
He urged partners to move beyond stand-alone infrastructure projects and invest in complete systems that integrate health facilities, healthcare workers, diagnostics, medicines, digital platforms, supply chains, maintenance, monitoring and evaluation.
Dr. Oluga invited the Safaricom Foundation and M-PESA Foundation to work with the Ministry over the next three to five years to support Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere demonstration counties, integrated maternal and newborn centres, non-communicable disease centres of excellence, digital health transformation and county health system strengthening.
He acknowledged the Foundations’ longstanding contribution to maternal and newborn health, obstetric fistula management, community health interventions and health system strengthening, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to deepening collaboration with the private sector.
Also present were Member of the National Assembly Hon. Sabina Chege and Ministry of Health directors Dr. Isaack Bashir, Family Health; Dr. Nazilla, Health Products and Technologies; and Dr. Nancy Njeru, Healthcare Financing.