From 13 to 16 October 2025, TFHC had the opportunity to embark on an exciting mission to Nairobi and key counties in Kenya. The purpose of this mission was to strengthen collaboration between Dutch and Kenyan Life Sciences & Health (LSH) organisations, explore innovative solutions, and advance Universal Health Coverage by enhancing access, quality, financing, and responsiveness within the healthcare system.
We were thrilled to connect with a diverse range of stakeholders, including public, private, and faith-based actors, and to explore pilot opportunities under the First 1,000 Days Initiative (F1DI) in Kisumu and Homa Bay counties.
Key Takeaways
Through our activities and interactions, we uncovered invaluable lessons and insights:
- The value of trust and relationships: Engaging public, private, and faith-based stakeholders separately clarified system roles and enabled focused conversations about collaboration.
- Importance of co-creation and local ownership: Aligning Dutch innovations with county priorities, technical capacity, and financing realities is essential for sustainable impact.
- Navigating the financing landscape: Understanding local funding mechanisms, blended financing opportunities, and investment criteria is critical for scaling pilots and collective strategies.
- Opportunities for replication and scaling: F1DI provides a framework to demonstrate impact in Kisumu and Homa Bay that can be adapted for other counties or thematic gaps within the Kenyan health system.
What We Did
During our time on the ground, we accomplished significant insights and relationship-building activities:
- Engaging Dutch participants and partners including Amref, PharmAccess, Unifix Care, Coolfinity, Microbe&Lab, Invest International, TNO, GOAL 3, and Healthy Entrepreneurs to shape a collective strategy for the Kenyan market.
- Site visits to innovative health facilities like Malaica and Kijabe Mission Hospital to observe healthcare delivery, digital health systems, and partnerships in practice.
- Presentations and learning sessions from local and regional organisations including Villgro, Damu Sasa, The Pathology Network, and RUPHA (Rural & Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya), CHAK and Kisumu and Homa Bay county on market needs, operational challenges, and successful partnerships.
- Roundtable discussions with 40 facilities under RUPHA to understand local strengths, gaps, and opportunities for scaling Dutch innovations sustainably.
- Interactive workshops and co-creation sessions to align Dutch solutions with county priorities, explore financing mechanisms, and map pilot opportunities in maternal and child health under F1DI.
What’s Next
Moving forward, the mission has laid the groundwork for actionable steps:
- Finalising Dutch stakeholder contributions to F1DI and defining roles within the collective framework.
- Planning follow-up missions and working sessions in May 2026 to present investment cases, define county roles, and co-create long-term implementation plans.
- Maintaining momentum through ongoing communication, facilitated by Open Phences Hub and the TFHC Combi Track team.
We extend our gratitude to the Open Phences Hub team, especially Wanjiru Mwaniki, Dr. Noelle Orata, and Frank Wafula, as well as Geoffrey Korir and Auke Boere for their support in making this mission a success.
This mission has reinforced the importance of collective impact, local partnerships, and sustainable innovation, setting the stage for meaningful progress in Kenya’s health sector.
Stay connected
For more information about this mission or opportunities for collaboration, feel free to reach out:
Phone: +316 82 39 04 68
E-mail: info@tfhc.nl
