By Erestinah Jane, June 29, 2026
Kenya and Belgium are deepening their partnership in the health sector through joint investments in healthcare infrastructure, medical research and biotechnology, as the two countries seek to strengthen Kenya’s healthcare system and accelerate the realization of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The renewed cooperation follows high-level engagements between officials from Kenya’s Ministry of Health and Belgian Ambassador to Kenya Peter Maddens, during which both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding financial support, technical assistance and technology transfer programmes aimed at improving healthcare delivery across the country.
A key pillar of the partnership is the establishment of the KEMRI-Unizima Bio-Manufacturing Training Hub, a collaborative initiative between the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and Belgian biotechnology company Unizima.
The project is designed to enhance Kenya’s capacity to locally research, develop and manufacture essential medicines and biopharmaceutical products, reducing reliance on imports while strengthening the country’s preparedness for future health emergencies.
Once fully operational, the facility will support the production of vaccines, insulin, cancer therapies and other biotherapeutic products, while also serving as a regional centre for biomedical innovation and pharmaceutical research.
The partnership will further facilitate the training of Kenyan biomedical scientists, laboratory technologists and technical personnel through specialized exchange programmes in Belgium, enabling them to acquire advanced expertise in biotechnology, pharmaceutical manufacturing and laboratory quality systems before transferring the knowledge to local institutions.
Health officials say the initiative will help build a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting Kenya’s growing pharmaceutical industry and positioning the country as a regional hub for medical manufacturing.
The two countries are also collaborating on improving environmental health through the implementation of the Medical Waste Microwave Project, an initiative supported by the Government of Belgium to modernize the disposal of hazardous medical waste.
The project replaces traditional open-air incineration methods with advanced microwave treatment technology, significantly reducing environmental pollution, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and minimizing the risk of infections associated with improper disposal of healthcare waste.
The first phase of the programme has already been implemented in major referral hospitals, including Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, as well as healthcare facilities in Kakamega, Kisumu, Mombasa, Nakuru, Embu, Nyeri, Machakos and Kisii.
Following the successful implementation of the second phase across 22 counties, Kenya and Belgium have now signed an Inter-Party Participating Agreement (IPA) to roll out the third phase of the programme, which will expand modern medical waste treatment systems to all 47 counties.
The nationwide expansion is expected to strengthen infection prevention and control measures, improve environmental safety and enhance the overall quality of healthcare services in both urban and rural health facilities.
Officials from both governments say the partnership reflects a shared commitment to building resilient healthcare systems through innovation, research, sustainable infrastructure and human resource development.
The collaboration is also expected to support Kenya’s broader agenda of increasing local pharmaceutical production, improving access to affordable medicines and positioning the country as a leader in health research and biotechnology within the East African region.
