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Saturday, 26 September 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Saturday, 26 September 2026
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Kenyan press · Event

Africa Forward Summit 2026

Also known as: AFS · Africa Forward Summit: Africa–France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth · The Summit · 2026 Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa · Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa · Kenya Health Summit 2026 · Kenya Health Summit · 13th National and County Government Coordinating Summit

2026-05-022026-09-26

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. May 2026
  2. The Standard

    Audio By VocalizeMakadara MP George Aladwa has criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over remarks on the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, saying this undermined Kenya’s image before international leaders and investors. …

    Aladwa slams Gachagua for criticism of Africa Forward Summit
  3. The Standard

    The recent “Africa Forward Summit” in Nairobi was marketed as the dawn of a “new model of partnership” between France and Africa. …

    Delusion: When guests mistake African hospitality for hegemony
  4. The Standard

    … Such is the thrust of popular conversations that informed the French President’s visit to Nairobi for the two-day French-sponsored Africa Forward conference. …

    Why Europe's visit to Africa will always arouse grave suspicion
  5. The Standard

    Audio By VocalizeThe two-day Africa Forward Summit closed in Nairobi with two irreconcilable verdicts. …

    The paradox of success in Africa Forward Summit
  6. The Standard

    Audio By VocalizeFor several months, Kenya seemed prepared to host the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi from May 11 to 12, with banners and huge billboards bearing images of President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron dotting the city. …

    Shame of security lapses, scuffles at high-profile African summit
  7. Citizen Digital

    … Photo/Courtesy Audio By Vocalize By Tracy Wamarema Just days after the Africa Forward Summit brought French ministers, African heads of state and international investors to Nairobi, a quieter but equally consequential gathering took place in Westlands. …

    Nairobi hosts business boot camp linking entrepreneurs to investors in clean energy
  8. The Standard

    … Speaking during the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, the founder and CEO of Beacon Power Services, Bim Adisa, said weak electricity distribution networks remain one of the continent’s most under-discussed energy challenges despite millions of consumers grappling with unreliable …

    Africa's energy debate ignoring critical power distribution crisis, expert warns
  9. The Standard

    … And he touched off a storm on social media when he urged the audience to keep quiet and listen to the proceedings at the Africa Forward Summit: Africa–France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth, which was taking place in Nairobi on Monday and Tuesday. …

    When Africa meets the world and still keeps its roots alive
  10. The Standard

    … This week, the French President Emmanuel Macron interrupted a section of proceedings at the Africa Forward Summit, a meeting attended by a number of African heads of state, government officials, and business leaders, to remind everyone present that it is rude to speak when someon …

    Macron's reprimand and why Kenya needs 'school of manners'
  11. The Standard

    The global trade rules largely dictated by the developed economies have been challenged in the just-concluded Africa Forward Summit, where Heads of State from the continent insisted they must be reviewed. …

    Africa-France summit ends with push to overhaul key trade rules

Thursday 24 September

  1. Kenya's devolved healthcare expanded services but struggles with equity

    More than a decade after Kenya devolved most frontline healthcare to 47 county governments, patients report expanded facilities and staffing, but face persistent challenges in access to medicines, equipment, and health workers across the country.

    24 September 2026 · Capital News →

Friday 18 September

  1. University of Nairobi graduates 3,000 students at 75th ceremony

    About 3,000 students from the University of Nairobi's Class of 2026 were conferred with degrees during the institution's 75th graduation ceremony held at the Chancellor's Court. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba urged graduates to apply critical thinking and innovation to solve societal challenges and create opportunities, while announcing government plans for full financing of students in public universities and technical institutions.

    18 September 2026 · Capital News →

Thursday 17 September

  1. Pharmacy board unveils standards for pharmaceutical care in Kenya

    The Pharmacy and Poisons Board has unveiled Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) Standards at the Kenya Health Summit, setting expectations for pharmaceutical care. The piece argues that while individual provisions may require refinement, the standards represent progress toward fulfilling Kenyans' constitutional right to the highest attainable standard of health.

    17 September 2026 · The Standard →

Sunday 13 September

  1. France's contested strategies in Sahel after military expulsion

    An opinion piece examines France's shifting engagement in the Sahel following its military withdrawal from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, citing unverified allegations of a "Phoenix operation" that allegedly sought to weaken Niger's military and leadership after France was expelled from the country in 2023.

    13 September 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 9 September

  1. Ruto calls for mutual-benefit partnerships in Africa

    Speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce Business Summit in Nairobi, President Ruto said Africa is seeking partnerships of mutual benefit and no longer accepting exploitative relationships, calling for investment pacts anchored on mutual gain to advance societies.

    9 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Tuesday 8 September

  1. Ruto praises devolution for improving service delivery

    President William Ruto said closer partnership between national and county governments has enabled progress in healthcare, agriculture, industrial development and digital systems, and brought decision-making closer to people while strengthening local accountability.

    8 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. France appoints Wadid Benaabou as new ambassador to Kenya

    Wadid Benaabou has been appointed France's new Ambassador-designate to Kenya, taking over from Arnaud Suquet, who completed a four-year posting that also covered Somalia and France's UN representation in Nairobi. Benaabou pledged to build on the longstanding ties between Kenya and France in trade, investment, security, climate action, and multilateral diplomacy.

    8 September 2026 · Capital News →

Saturday 5 September

  1. Foreign Ministry denies staffing gaps at Kenya's Rabat embassy

    Kenya's Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary rejected parliamentary concerns about understaffing at the embassy in Rabat, stating the mission is "fully staffed and equipped" to advance Kenya's strategic interests in Morocco and North Africa, despite a parliamentary committee report citing vacancies including a clerk, foreign relations officer, and defence attaché, plus the absence of a dedicated translator.

    5 September 2026 · Capital News →

Wednesday 2 September

  1. Ruto hails deepening Kenya-France ties as ambassador departs

    President William Ruto bid farewell to outgoing French Ambassador Arnaud Suquet, highlighting the elevated Kenya-France partnership spanning diplomacy, trade, and strategic investment. The relationship was marked by the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi in May 2026, which resulted in 11 bilateral agreements including a Sh12.5 billion Nairobi Commuter Rail upgrade and projects on digital connectivity, education, and aviation fuel.

    2 September 2026 · Capital News →

Thursday 27 August

  1. Africa's progress hindered by mental barriers, not just infrastructure

    Kenya's Principal Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Dr Korir Sing'oei told the Africa Mindset Reset Conference in Rwanda that Africa's development is constrained by "mental barriers" that shape how Africans view one another, beyond inadequate infrastructure, limited capital and weak policies.

    27 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Tuesday 25 August

  1. Ruto: Narok Airport completion expected within two months

    President William Ruto announced that construction of the Sh677 million Narok Airport will be completed within two months, with the facility designed to serve both domestic and international passengers and boost tourism to the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

    25 August 2026 · The Standard →

Friday 21 August

  1. KNH directs non-emergency patients to seek care at other facilities

    Kenyatta National Hospital has advised patients seeking non-emergency medical care to visit other health facilities as the national referral hospital faces congestion due to a surge in patient numbers linked to an ongoing health workers' industrial action.

    21 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. Pharmacy and Poisons Board strengthens regulation for patient safety

    The Pharmacy and Poisons Board says it has strengthened regulation of pharmacy practice and health products as part of reforms to protect patients and support Universal Health Coverage, including licensing of 15,679 pharmaceutical professionals and 11,141 premises, introducing Kenya's first Good Pharmacy Practice Standards, and digitising regulatory services.

    21 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  3. Nairobi health law grants Level Five hospitals greater autonomy

    Nairobi's new Health Services and Management Act, which came into force on August 19, gives Level Five county hospitals institutional and financial responsibility while introducing stronger oversight and accountability measures. Hospitals will be governed by Management Boards headed by competitively appointed CEOs who serve as accounting officers responsible for financial management, budgets, procurement, staffing and performance.

    21 August 2026 · Capital News →

  4. KNH advises non-emergency patients to seek care elsewhere

    Kenyatta National Hospital has urged patients seeking non-emergency care to consider other health facilities, citing congestion, long queues, and extended waiting times caused by the ongoing health workers' strike across the country. The strike, driven by unimplemented Collective Bargaining Agreements and unpaid salaries, has pushed more patients towards the national referral hospital, disrupting services particularly for emergency cases.

    21 August 2026 · The Standard →

  5. Health unions blame inadequate financing for Kenya's healthcare crisis

    Kenya Union of Clinical Officers and Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union officials say healthcare challenges stem from inadequate and delayed financing, and that reforms cannot succeed without sufficient resources. They urged the government to prioritise healthcare financing and implement a mechanism to ensure health facilities are paid amounts owed to them, particularly reimbursements from insurers.

    21 August 2026 · The Standard →

Thursday 20 August

  1. Sakaja approves law granting Nairobi hospitals financial autonomy

    Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has approved the Nairobi City County Health Services and Management Act, 2026, which grants Level Five county hospitals greater financial and management autonomy while introducing stronger oversight, accountability, and protection of patients' rights. The hospitals will operate as county entities with Hospital Management Boards and competitively appointed CEOs serving as accounting officers overseeing financial management, budgeting, procurement, and staffing.

    20 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. Kindiki stresses county role in Kenya's health reforms

    Deputy President Kithure Kindiki called for stronger coordination between national and county governments to deliver effective health reforms and Universal Health Coverage, emphasizing that counties manage frontline facilities and that system failures in any component immediately affect patient care.

    20 August 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 19 August

  1. KEMSA raises medicine availability from 40% to over 90% in public facilities

    The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority has increased its order fill rate from about 40 per cent in 2022 to more than 90 per cent by redesigning its approach around demand, efficiency, predictability, technology and data. KEMSA CEO Dr Waqo Ejersa said the authority consulted stakeholders to understand what health facilities actually needed, moving beyond simply managing nearly 3,800 Stock Keeping Units.

    19 August 2026 · Capital News →

  2. Kenya targets 40 million SHA registrations by end of year

    Deputy President Kindiki says the government is stepping up efforts to register all Kenyans under the Social Health Authority's Taifa Care programme, targeting 40 million enrollments by year-end after registering 32 million over the last two years, with a goal of universal registration by August next year.

    19 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  3. Ruto orders resolution of health workers' salary arrears within week

    At the inaugural Kenya Health Summit, President William Ruto held a town hall where striking health workers presented grievances directly to him, with salary arrears emerging as a key concern amid recurring strikes and tensions between unions and county governments.

    19 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  4. Government targets 40 million SHA registrations by year-end

    Deputy President Kindiki says the government aims to register 40 million Kenyans under the Social Health Authority (SHA) by the end of 2024, up from 32 million over the past two years, with a goal of universal coverage by August 2027.

    19 August 2026 · Capital News →

  5. Health PS pledges government funding for worker postgraduate training

    Health PS Mary Muthoni announced the government has funding to support health workers seeking postgraduate training in specialised skills, as part of a data-driven approach to address Kenya's health workforce gaps and improve distribution of personnel across counties.

    19 August 2026 · Capital News →

  6. KEMSA increases Order Fill Rate to over 90% through supply chain reforms

    The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority has improved its Order Fill Rate from 40% in 2022 to over 90%, driven by a shift from a push-based supply model to a demand-driven strategy that consults county stakeholders and health facilities on actual needs.

    19 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  7. Kenya launches plan to reduce maternal and newborn deaths

    The Government has renewed its commitment to reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths through increased investment, stronger health systems, and collaboration between national and county governments. First Lady Rachel Ruto welcomed the launch of the EveryWoman EveryNewborn Everywhere (EWENE) Acceleration Plan 2026 to 2028, which aims to expand maternal healthcare coverage and improve outcomes.

    19 August 2026 · The Standard →

  8. PPB strengthens medicine oversight with pharmacy standards

    The Pharmacy and Poisons Board has introduced Good Pharmacy Practice Standards and expanded digital verification to strengthen oversight of medicines, pharmacies, and pharmaceutical professionals. The Board is also implementing a national track and trace system to improve supply chain visibility and detect suspicious medical products.

    19 August 2026 · The Standard →

  9. Kenya deploys mobile labs to remote areas for advanced diagnostics

    Kenya is using portable and locally manufactured medical diagnostic technologies, including mobile molecular laboratories, to deliver specialized healthcare services to underserved and remote communities. A mobile molecular laboratory has been deployed in Baringo County for screening and testing, reducing the need for patients to travel to urban referral hospitals.

    19 August 2026 · The Standard →

Tuesday 18 August

  1. Ruto credits health reforms as SHA enrollment reaches 32.3 million

    President William Ruto said government health sector reforms over three years have succeeded, with 32.3 million Kenyans now enrolled in the Social Health Authority (SHA) since its October 2024 launch—up from 8 million under the previous National Hospital Insurance Fund—and 178 billion shillings paid to hospitals while SHA has treated over eight million people.

    18 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. President Ruto tours KEMSA digital transformation at Health Summit

    President William Ruto visited KEMSA's exhibition stand at the Kenya Health Summit in Nairobi to see how digital systems are improving efficiency and accountability in the health supply chain. KEMSA said its order fill rate has risen to 90 per cent from 40 per cent three years ago, and highlighted its Paperless KEMSA system and last-mile delivery model for health commodities to facilities.

    18 August 2026 · Capital News →

  3. Ruto criticizes old NHIF system as enabling theft from patients

    President William Ruto has accused the defunct National Health Insurance Fund system of enabling theft from sick Kenyans through claims for procedures that never happened, fictitious patients and inflated bills. He called digital health systems essential to closing loopholes and described Universal Health Coverage as one of the government's most consequential social transformation efforts.

    18 August 2026 · The Standard →

Africa Forward Summit 2026 — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute