WHX Nairobi & WHX Labs Nairobi Finds Solution for Kenyan Healthcare Workers Critical Deficit
WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi to Find Sustainable Solutions for Critical Deficit of Healthcare Workers
Nairobi, Kenya | June 2025: Kenya currently produces 7,650 new health workers each year, however, the country needs 70,000 more to ensure every Kenyan who needs care gets access to it, according to a recent WHO assessment. This shortage of healthcare workers is expected to grow by more than 114,000 by 2030 and a staggering 170,000 by 2035, unless urgent action is taken to increase training programmes and the hiring of health workers.
With over 300 exhibitors, 20 counties represented, 65+ international speakers and over 8,000 attendees, WHX Nairobi – Kenya’s premier healthcare and lab event – will take place from 6 - 8 October 2025 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
Kenya’s rapidly growing population, projected to exceed 63 million by 2030, is contributing towards the demand for healthcare services. While the health workforce is growing at an annual rate of 3.4%, the demand for health services is rising 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.
Despite Kenya’s commitment to implementing its UHC plan as part of the Health Sector Strategy and Vision 2030, a recent SH38.7 billion budget cut could significantly undermine the delivery of essential public health functions.
Strategic Transformation through WHX Nairobi & WHX Labs Nairobi
The solution is complex and requires a paradigm shift in health workforce planning — moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and fostering greater collaboration between the public and private sectors to boost investments in health employment.
For the past seven years, Medic East Africa and Medlab East Africa have led Kenya’s healthcare and laboratory events. Now rebranded as WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi, and held in partnership with the Ministry of Health, with support from the Africa CDC, Kenya Healthcare Foundation, and the Kenya Medical Association, the events will bring transformative change to the healthcare landscape.
Together, these events will showcase innovations, attract investment, and foster collaboration among businesses, governments, and healthcare innovators — breaking geographical barriers to position Kenya as a regional medical hub under the World Health Expo (WHX) brand, the world’s leading network of healthcare events.
Empowering Regional Healthcare and Laboratory Excellence
Kenya and East Africa face an urgent need for improved patient care, advanced laboratory solutions, and sustainable healthcare systems. WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi will empower hospital executives, laboratory managers, procurement specialists, and government officials to drive positive change.
In a historic first, WHX Nairobi will host the Healthcare Leaders Ministerial Roundtable, backed by President William Ruto and the Ministry of Health Kenya. This high-level forum will unite policymakers and global healthcare leaders to drive strategic transformation, including:
Addressing workforce shortages,
Expanding medical education,
Improving laboratory science training,
Creating incentives for rural healthcare practice.
> “Kenya’s journey toward Universal Health Coverage is grounded in the principle of Primary Health Care. The five transformative health laws passed in 2023 have laid a robust foundation, ensuring equitable access to services, sustainable financing, interoperable digital systems, and a people-centred, data-driven health system. 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,”
— Desta Lakew, Group Director of Partnerships & External Affairs, AMREF Health Africa.
Key VIP Attendees
This year’s WHX Nairobi event, supported by the Ministry of Health, will host top dignitaries and thought leaders including:
Deborah Barasa, Cabinet Secretary, Environment, Climate Change & Forestry
Mary Muthoni Muriuki, CBC, HSC, Principal Secretary for Health Kenya
Lee Maiyani Kinyanjui, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry (MITI)
Dr Mazyanga Lucy Mazaba, Regional Director, Africa CDC
Hon. Beatrice Askul Moe, Cabinet Secretary, East African Community Affairs and Regional Development
> *“By uniting policymakers, legislators, hospital executives, laboratory prof
essionals, and healthcare leaders at WHX Nairobi and WH
Date: 12 July 2025 Comments: 0