A major milestone in Africa’s medical technology sector has unfolded in Nairobi as Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies (Terumo BCT), a global leader in blood-related healthcare solutions, officially inaugurated its Africa headquarters and regional training centre in Kenya’s capital.
The move is expected to strengthen blood safety, boost local technical expertise, and reinforce Kenya’s position as a regional health innovation hub.
For years, African health systems have battled blood shortages, testing gaps, limited cold-chain infrastructure, and delays in emergency transfusion availability.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, Guracha Adi, Director at the Kenya Investment Authority (Invest Kenya), said:
“Invest Kenya welcomes Terumo BCT’s decision to establish its Africa Headquarters and Training Centre in Nairobi. This investment underscores Kenya’s increasing appeal as a regional hub for advanced medical technologies and capacity building. It aligns with our national agenda to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, enhance blood management systems, and support the country’s pursuit of Universal Health Coverage. We are confident that this facility will play a pivotal role in elevating technical expertise across the region.”
Terumo BCT’s President and CEO Antoinette Gawin said the company is investing in Africa not as a peripheral market, but as a strategic growth region with enormous potential.
“Africa has some of the most dynamic health systems and brightest medical innovators. By establishing our headquarters and training centre here, we are committing to building local capacity and enabling African clinicians to access world-class blood and cell technology without relying on overseas expertise.”
Kenya, like many countries in the region, relies heavily on donor-funded programs and overstretched national blood services to meet clinical needs in surgery, maternal health, oncology, and trauma care.
With Terumo BCT’s expansion, the continent finally has a chance to build more sustainable, technology-driven solutions for blood management.
The newly launched training center will host biomedical engineers, nurses, blood bank specialists, and transfusion technologists from across Africa.
They will receive hands-on technical training on modern blood-processing devices, cell-therapies manufacturing equipment, and donor-safety systems that can dramatically reduce transfusion-related risks.
Kenya has recently embarked on health sector reforms under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda, including digital health records, equipment modernization, and improved supply-chain reliability.
Having a global technology player headquartered in Nairobi signals growing confidence in the country’s regulatory structure, innovation ecosystem, and health-economic potential.
In Kenya, an estimated 164,000 units of blood are collected annually, far below the WHO-recommended 450,000. Compounding the shortage is a lack of component separation capability, meaning whole blood is often used where platelets or plasma alone could suffice.
Terumo BCT’s technologies enable separation and advanced processing, making blood resources last longer and serve more patients.
Beyond strengthening health systems, the investment may also stimulate economic and knowledge-based growth.
Nairobi’s status as a preferred hub for multinational headquarters continues to rise, supported by Kenya’s geographic centrality, language compatibility, and maturing professional workforce.
Gawin affirmed the company’s long-term vision:
“Our goal is not simply to bring machines. We are here to transfer knowledge, support local innovation, and build enduring partnerships with Africa’s health community.”
With the Nairobi headquarters now operational, Terumo BCT joins a growing list of global health-technology firms betting on Africa not just as a consumer market, but as a future leader in medical science, technical expertise, and healthcare solutions.