Kenya Faces Critical Health Workforce Shortage as WHX Nairobi 2025 Mobilizes Solutions

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Kenya is staring down a deepening healthcare workforce crisis that experts warn could stall the country’s progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC). As the population is expected to surpass 63 million by 2030, the demand for healthcare services is rapidly outpacing the growth of trained personnel.

According to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) assessment, Kenya currently trains approximately 7,650 new healthcare workers annually. However, the country requires more than 70,000 additional professionals to meet existing needs. Projections show that unless urgent interventions are made, this gap could widen to over 114,000 by 2030 and reach 170,000 by 2035.

This widening disparity has raised alarms across the health sector, prompting organizers of East Africa’s largest healthcare and laboratory event—WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi—to spotlight the issue. The event, scheduled for October 6–8, 2025, will take place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi and is expected to attract more than 8,000 attendees, including 300 exhibitors, representatives from 20 counties, and over 65 international speakers.

Formerly known as Medic East Africa and Medlab East Africa, the events have been rebranded under the World Health Expo (WHX) banner. This year’s editions will place a strong focus on workforce planning, health investment, innovation, and collaboration.

Supported by the Ministry of Health, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the Kenya Healthcare Federation, and the Kenya Medical Association, WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi aim to serve as a catalyst for long-term change in healthcare delivery and training.

“This is no longer just a health issue—it’s a national development issue,” said Tom Coleman, Portfolio Director at Informa Markets, the event organizer. “We must urgently rethink how we train, recruit, and retain healthcare workers.”

High-Level Dialogue Backed by the Presidency

One of the key highlights of this year’s event will be the Healthcare Leaders Ministerial Roundtable, a strategic forum backed by President William Ruto and the Ministry of Health. The roundtable is expected to convene high-level policymakers, global health leaders, and private sector representatives to explore sustainable solutions to the workforce crisis.

Among the dignitaries invited are:

• Deborah Barasa, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry
• Mary Muthoni Muriuki, Principal Secretary for Health
• Lee Maiyani Kinyanjui, Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry
• Dr. Mazyanga Lucy Mazaba, Regional Director, Africa CDC
• Beatrice Askul Moe, Cabinet Secretary for East African Community Affairs

The forum will explore strategic themes such as expanding medical education, improving laboratory training, incentivizing rural healthcare work, and increasing public-private partnerships in workforce investment.

“Kenya’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage is grounded in Primary Health Care. The transformative health laws passed in 2023 lay a solid foundation for a more inclusive and data-driven system,” said Desta Lakew, Group Director of Partnerships & External Affairs at AMREF Health Africa. “The WHX roundtable is a crucial opportunity to build political momentum around scalable, people-centered solutions.”

Knowledge Exchange and Innovation

Across three days, WHX Nairobi will host six CPD-accredited conferences, covering:

• Healthcare Policy & Investment
• Digital Health
• Primary Health Care
• Laboratory Management
• Molecular Diagnostics & Genomics
• Clinical Microbiology & Parasitology

WHX Labs Nairobi will offer practical insights into lab management, automation, precision diagnostics, and sustainable health lab development. New country pavilions from Egypt, South Africa, and Brazil will also showcase cutting-edge medical technologies.

Coleman notes that the event is not just about discussion, but impact:

“WHX is a place for decision-makers to meet the innovators. From hospital executives and lab professionals to government and tech providers—this is where solutions become action.”

New Sustainability Programs

WHX Nairobi 2025 will also introduce two new social sustainability initiatives aimed at addressing the workforce crisis from multiple angles:

1. Rays of Hope, in collaboration with GE Healthcare and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), will help expand access to cancer diagnostics by addressing the shortage of radiologists in the region.
2. Women 50/50, led by Philana Mugyenyi, will focus on promoting gender parity in healthcare and laboratory leadership roles.

“True healthcare transformation requires equity,” said Mugyenyi. “Through Women 50/50, we aim to unlock leadership opportunities for women in clinical and scientific roles.”

Looking Ahead

Despite a recent KES 38.7 billion budget cut in Kenya’s health sector, stakeholders remain optimistic that platforms like WHX Nairobi can drive momentum for reforms and investment. The events are expected to shape national and regional healthcare policy conversations for years to come.

“By bringing together policy, innovation, and investment, WHX Nairobi 2025 offers a unique chance to reshape healthcare for the better—not only for Kenya but for the wider East African region,” said Coleman.

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Registration

Healthcare professionals, policymakers, investors, and innovators can register to attend:

👉 WHX Nairobi Healthcare Event
👉 WHX Labs Nairobi Event

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About World Health Expo (WHX):
The WHX network includes 15 global healthcare exhibitions and over 110 conferences annually, serving more than 600,000 healthcare professionals. WHX events emphasize sustainability, education, and positive social impact across host cities and regions.

About Informa Markets:
Informa is a global leader in events, digital services, and academic research. Listed on the London Stock Exchange and part of the FTSE 100, Informa operates in more than 30 countries with a workforce of 14,000.