BY NT CORRESPONDENT.
Kenya is likely to face severe shortage of healthcare workers in ten years’ time if urgent measures are not taken to expand training programs and recruitment.
According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, Kenya’s rapidly growing population, projected to exceed 63 million by 2030, fueling rising demand for healthcare services.
While the health workforce is increasing at 3.4% annually, WHO said the demand for services was growing faster at 4.7%.
“Without sufficient doctors, the health system cannot scale up to meet this demand, hindering progress toward Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) targets,” said WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi, the leading healthcare and laboratory events in Kenya.
Despite the government’s commitment to Universal Health Care (UHC) through Vision 2030, a recent KSh 38.7 billion budget cut to the health sector threatens to undermine essential public health delivery.
The organisation said tackling the crisis will require a shift from a one-size-fits-all approach to strategic workforce planning and greater collaboration between the public and private sectors to boost investment in healthcare employment.
As part of this effort, WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi—the newly rebranded editions of Medic East Africa and Medlab East Africa—will take place from 6–8 October 2025 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi.
Held in partnership with the Ministry of Health and supported by Africa CDC, Kenya Healthcare Foundation, and the Kenya Medical Association, the events aim to position Kenya as a regional medical hub.
WHX Nairobi will feature conferences on policy, digital health, primary care, and leadership. WHX Labs Nairobi will focus on laboratory diagnostics, automation, and precision medicine, addressing workforce gaps with training in areas like molecular diagnostics, microbiology, and lab management.
This year, the event will host the first-ever Healthcare Leaders Ministerial Roundtable, backed by President William Ruto and the Ministry of Health. The roundtable will convene global leaders and policymakers to explore sustainable solutions to the healthcare workforce crisis.
“Kenya’s journey toward Universal Health Coverage is grounded in the principle of Primary Health Care… My hope for the WHX Nairobi roundtable is that it catalyses greater political goodwill and innovation toward scalable, people-first solutions that can be replicated across Africa,” said Desta Lakew, Group Director of Partnerships & External Affairs, AMREF Health Africa.
Confirmed VIP attendees include Mary Muthoni Muriuki, Principal Secretary for Health; Lee Maiyani Kinyanjui, Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry; Dr. Mazyanga Lucy Mazaba, Regional Director, Africa CDC; and Deborah Barasa, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, among others.
“By uniting policymakers, healthcare leaders, and innovators, WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi are helping accelerate improved patient care and transform the region’s health systems,” said Tom Coleman, Portfolio Director, Informa Markets.
