Kenya has taken a historic stride in integrating health and climate action, following the launch of the Kenya Climate Change and Health Strategy (2024–2029) by Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale, EGH, at Ole Sereni Hotel in Nairobi on October 21, 2025. The launch marked a defining moment for the country’s health sector as it positions itself to address one of the most pressing global challenges of the century — the intersection between climate change and human health.
Speaking during the conference, Hon. Duale underscored the urgency of Kenya’s mission, describing climate change as “the greatest global health threat of the 21st century.” He emphasized that the new strategy was not merely a document, but a national blueprint for action — designed to safeguard the health of Kenyans against rising temperatures, shifting disease patterns, and extreme weather events. “Health is the human face of climate change,” he said, reminding participants that every drought, flood, and heatwave ultimately affects lives and livelihoods.
The Kenya Climate Change and Health Strategy sets out a five-year roadmap that integrates climate resilience into the heart of healthcare delivery. It focuses on three key objectives: creating a coordinated national framework for adaptation and mitigation, embedding climate action into Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and community health systems, and aligning Kenya’s health-climate priorities with regional and global agendas such as the Global Commission on Adaptation’s “Adapt Now” initiative and the Harare Declaration on Climate and Health.
What stood out during the event was Kenya’s intent to lead not just nationally, but continentally. The Ministry of Health announced plans to establish a Regional Secretariat for Health, Environment, and Climate Action (HECA) to be hosted by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). This Secretariat will serve as a hub for African research, coordination, and technical cooperation — ensuring that the continent responds to climate-driven health challenges with one voice and shared vision: One Africa, One Climate, One Health.
Partnerships featured prominently in the discussions, with key acknowledgments extended to organizations including ARIN, AMREF Health Africa, NEMA, CHANCE Network, TNO Netherlands, LEEPS, and global supporters like the Wellcome Trust. These collaborations are expected to boost both policy and scientific innovation, ensuring that Kenya’s health sector becomes more climate-resilient and better equipped to protect communities at the frontline of environmental stress.
As the world looks toward COP30 in Belém, Brazil, Kenya’s new strategy has positioned the country as a continental leader in health and climate diplomacy. By operationalizing its commitments under COP26 and COP28, and co-sponsoring the Climate and Health Resolution adopted at the 77th World Health Assembly, Kenya has shown that it is ready to move from policy to implementation, from commitment to measurable impact.
Experts attending the launch noted that the KCCHS provides a model for other developing nations — a framework that bridges the gap between global commitments and local realities. It recognizes that resilience begins in communities, and that sustainable health systems must adapt to a warming planet. The strategy’s implementation is expected to influence health facility design, data collection, emergency preparedness, and even healthcare supply chains to minimize carbon emissions and enhance sustainability.
In his closing remarks, Hon. Duale called for collective responsibility, stating that sustainable development cannot be achieved without addressing climate change. His declaration of the strategy’s official launch was met with applause and optimism, signaling a new era where Kenya’s healthcare policies and climate actions work in tandem to protect its people and planet.
With this milestone, Kenya has set the pace for Africa as it approaches COP30, proving that real climate leadership lies in turning commitments into action — and in ensuring that every Kenyan can breathe cleaner air, drink safer water, and live healthier lives in a changing world.
