• Kenya, Africa CDC sign deal for regional health centre

• Nairobi hub to serve 14 states, boost outbreak response

• Initiative aims to strengthen surveillance, coordination, preparedness

Kenya has signed a framework agreement with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to establish a Regional Coordinating Centre for East Africa in Nairobi, the Ministry of Health said on Monday, April 27.

Kenya has signed a framework agreement with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to establish the Eastern Africa Regional Coordinating Centre in Nairobi, positioning the country as a key hub for regional health security.

The agreement was presided over by Health… pic.twitter.com/JHJ861Gqn5

— Ministry of Health (@MOH_Kenya) April 27, 2026

The centre will serve 14 member states and is intended to improve coordination, preparedness and response to public health emergencies. It is expected to enhance epidemiological surveillance, facilitate information sharing among countries and strengthen rapid-response capabilities during health crises.

Africa remains vulnerable to disease outbreaks due to structural factors, including cross-border mobility, the effects of climate change and pressure on health systems. According to Africa CDC, diseases such as cholera, measles and Ebola continue to cause thousands of cases each year, with more than 200,000 cholera cases recorded in East and Southern Africa in 2023.

In recent months, Africa CDC has stepped up efforts to improve the continent’s health autonomy. In February, the agency, working with the African Union and the United Nations Population Fund, finalized a partnership to accelerate health innovation across the continent.

These initiatives come amid persistent structural challenges. Africa will need to mobilize around 6.1 million additional health workers by 2030 to meet minimum health coverage standards. This workforce shortfall remains one of the main barriers to universal access to healthcare, limiting the quality, availability and resilience of health services.

Ingrid Haffiny