NAIROBI, Kenya — Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has held bilateral talks with a delegation from the European Investment Bank aimed at advancing strategic investments in Kenya’s health sector, with a major focus on the energy transition at Kenyatta National Hospital.
The delegation was led by EIB Vice President Marek Mora.
The discussions focused on the ongoing solarisation pilot project at Kenyatta National Hospital, which is being supported under the EIB City Climate Finance Gap Fund.
Officials said feasibility studies have already been completed, and implementation is now underway.
According to the Ministry of Health, the project is expected to serve as the foundation for a wider national programme targeting at least 2,000 priority health facilities across the country.
The initiative aims to strengthen the reliability of healthcare services by deploying standardised solar and battery storage systems in hospitals and clinics.
The systems will also be integrated with critical medical equipment to ensure uninterrupted operations during power outages.
Health officials said the programme is expected to improve service continuity in key areas such as immunisation, maternal health, and child healthcare, while lowering operational energy costs and enhancing climate resilience within the public health sector.
During the meeting, Duale called for continued EIB support in financing the national rollout, expanding technical assistance, and developing innovative financing mechanisms to attract further investment into Kenya’s health infrastructure.
The talks also highlighted the growing link between energy security and healthcare delivery, particularly as Kenya pushes to strengthen its Universal Health Coverage agenda.
Reliable electricity remains a major challenge in some health facilities, especially in remote and underserved counties where power interruptions can disrupt lifesaving services.
The Ministry of Health said the planned rollout will include improved maintenance systems and governance frameworks at both national and county levels to ensure sustainability of the programme.
The meeting was attended by Ephraim Lemango of UNICEF, Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth, Richard Lesiyampe, and senior Ministry of Health officials.
Kenya has increasingly turned to renewable energy solutions within public institutions as part of broader efforts to cut operational costs, improve service delivery, and meet climate action commitments under national and international frameworks.
