NAIROBI, Kenya — Health sector leaders from across the country have convened in Nairobi for a two-day Taifa Care Adaptive Leadership Training aimed at strengthening leadership capacity to drive the implementation of Kenya’s flagship health reform programme under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.
The training, organised by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in collaboration with the National Treasury and the Global Fund, began on March 13 in Nairobi.
The forum brings together national and county health leaders, development partners and other key stakeholders involved in advancing Kenya’s health sector reforms.
The leadership programme focuses on equipping health sector decision-makers with the tools and skills needed to support the nationwide rollout of Taifa Care.
Participants attending the training include senior health officials, programme managers, and representatives from partner organisations working within the health sector.
The sessions are designed to enhance leadership capacity and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders involved in implementing the reforms.
The initiative is part of broader efforts by the government to ensure effective implementation of health policies under the Universal Health Coverage framework, which seeks to guarantee equitable access to quality healthcare services.
The programme is being facilitated by Professor Farayi Chipungu of the Kennedy School of Business at Harvard University, who is guiding participants through adaptive leadership approaches for complex health systems.
Health sector leaders from across the country have convened in Nairobi for a two-day Taifa Care Adaptive Leadership Training aimed at strengthening leadership capacity to drive the implementation of Kenya’s flagship health reform programme under the Universal Health Coverage
The training sessions focus on building the ability of leaders to navigate challenges that arise during large-scale reforms within healthcare systems.
Through the programme, participants are being equipped with adaptive leadership skills aimed at helping them manage evolving challenges while maintaining the overall vision of strengthening Kenya’s health system.
The leadership approach being introduced during the training emphasises flexibility, collaboration and innovation when responding to systemic challenges in public health.
Opening the forum, Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga called on participants to embrace adaptive leadership while implementing reforms in the health sector.
Dr. Oluga urged stakeholders to remain responsive to changing contexts while maintaining the broader vision of transforming Kenya’s healthcare system.
“Participants should embrace adaptive leadership by responding to changing contexts, learning from crises and adjusting strategies while maintaining the broader vision of transforming Kenya’s healthcare system,” he said.
“The success of reforms should not be measured solely by activities or reports, but by whether they deliver tangible improvements in healthcare services and positively impact the lives of citizens,” Dr. Oluga said.
During the two-day forum, participants are engaging in reflective discussions focused on practical implementation experiences within Kenya’s health sector.
The discussions allow stakeholders to jointly analyse emerging challenges and identify strategies to strengthen programme delivery as the country moves forward with the Taifa Care rollout.
Key areas of focus during the training include:, health financing reforms, commodity security, workforce strengthening, digital health transformation
These thematic areas are central to ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of healthcare services under the Universal Health Coverage agenda.
By addressing these issues collectively, the training aims to improve coordination between national and county governments as well as development partners supporting the health sector.
The leadership programme also seeks to strengthen collaboration among institutions responsible for implementing health reforms.
Participants are encouraged to share lessons from their respective regions and programmes while developing practical strategies to address operational challenges.
The Ministry of Health says the initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to enhance collaborative leadership and institutional capacity required to support the implementation of major healthcare reforms.
Through leadership development initiatives such as the adaptive leadership training, the Ministry of Health hopes to ensure that health sector leaders are well-equipped to manage the complexities associated with large-scale policy implementation.
