Kenya is positioning itself as a strategic healthcare investment and trade gateway for East Africa as more than 350 international companies converge in Nairobi for the World Health Expo (WHX) Nairobi 2026.
The four-day exhibition, which opened on Wednesday at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), has attracted medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, technology firms, healthcare professionals and investors from about 25 countries.
Beyond showcasing products, the expo is emerging as a marketplace for investment, procurement and commercial partnerships as Kenya seeks to leverage its position as a regional business hub to expand healthcare trade and manufacturing.
WHX Nairobi Exhibition Manager Daniel Green said international companies are increasingly looking to East Africa for opportunities to import, export and distribute healthcare products.
“Over 350 international companies are here this week with us in Nairobi for World Health Expo Nairobi. These companies are really, really interested in importing or exporting their products to the East African market,” Green said.
The companies are showcasing medical devices, laboratory equipment, pharmaceuticals and nutraceutical products, providing an avenue for healthcare buyers, distributors and institutions to engage directly with global suppliers.
For Kenya, the growing international participation comes as the government seeks to strengthen domestic healthcare supply chains and increase local production of medical products and equipment.
The Ministry of Health said international exhibitors should be viewed as potential strategic partners in transforming the country’s healthcare system rather than simply as suppliers of equipment.
Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Mugo said Kenya wants to leverage such partnerships to strengthen the country’s healthcare capacity.
In remarks delivered by Director of Primary Healthcare, Preventive and Promotive Health Joe Lenai, the Ministry of Health said healthcare should be regarded not only as a social expenditure but also as an engine of economic growth and an issue of national security.
The government is pursuing reforms under the Primary Healthcare Act, Social Health Insurance Act, Digital Health Act and Facility Improvement Financing Act, increasing demand for equipment, technology and infrastructure across the health system.
The Ministry said the expansion of healthcare services has exposed gaps in access to diagnostic equipment, surgical tools, medical oxygen, laboratory equipment, reagents and reliable power, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
These gaps are creating potential opportunities for investors and manufacturers as healthcare institutions seek reliable technologies and equipment to support service delivery.
The government is also seeking to deepen collaboration between international manufacturers and Kenyan institutions through technology transfer, skills development and training of local biomedical engineers and technicians.
Local manufacturing is a key component of the strategy, with Kenya seeking to reduce its dependence on imported healthcare products while creating opportunities for domestic manufacturers to participate in regional supply chains.
Green said extending healthcare supply chains beyond major cities remains one of the region’s key challenges, particularly in reaching rural communities.
Technology, he added, could play a critical role in improving the movement of medicines and medical equipment while expanding access to reliable healthcare information and medical results.
Digital health and medical technology are consequently among the major themes at WHX Nairobi, with exhibitors showcasing solutions aimed at improving healthcare access, supply-chain efficiency and service delivery.
The expo is expected to drive discussions around healthcare investment, procurement, regional distribution, local manufacturing, technology transfer, digital health and medical innovation.
For Kenya, the gathering offers an opportunity to connect international capital and technology with a healthcare market undergoing significant policy and structural reforms, while positioning Nairobi as a platform for companies seeking access to the wider East African market.