By Diana Arodi
The Principal Secretary for the State Department for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, today hosted key representatives from Zipline at Afya House, Nairobi, to discuss a potential Public-Private Partnership aimed at expanding drone delivery services across Kenya.
The meeting brought together Zipline Director Ms. Caitlin Burton and Kenya Country Director Mr. Charles Kariuki, with the engagement supported by funding from the United States Government.
The discussion focused on how drone technology can be harnessed to improve access to essential health commodities, especially in remote and underserved areas.
Through this collaboration, the Ministry of Health aims to strengthen the efficiency, reliability, and responsiveness of the healthcare supply chain.
Zipline, a global leader in drone logistics, has already demonstrated success in countries such as Rwanda and Ghana, where drone deliveries have significantly reduced wait times for critical medical supplies.
Kenya now seeks to replicate and scale up this success, ensuring that health facilities across the country can receive timely deliveries of vaccines, blood units, emergency medicines, and other vital health products.
Dr. Oluga expressed optimism about the partnership, noting that such innovative solutions are essential for achieving universal health coverage and addressing long-standing logistical barriers in the healthcare system.
“This technology will bridge the gap between health facilities and the timely delivery of lifesaving commodities. It is a step forward in ensuring that no Kenyan is left behind due to geographical or logistical limitations,” he said.
The Zipline team reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with Kenyan authorities to ensure seamless integration with existing health infrastructure.
They emphasized the potential for job creation, technology transfer, and improved health outcomes across the country.
This collaboration reflects the government’s broader vision under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and aligns with the Taifa Care initiative, which seeks to make quality healthcare accessible and affordable to all Kenyans.
As Kenya explores cutting-edge solutions to its healthcare delivery challenges, this partnership with Zipline stands as a promising step toward a smarter, faster, and more equitable health system.