More than 8,500 healthcare professionals, buyers, distributors and decision-makers attended the 10th edition of World Health Expo (WHX) Nairobi as medical technology suppliers increasingly target East Africa’s growing healthcare market.
The three-day exhibition, held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) from September 16 to 18, brought together more than 250 companies from 30 countries, creating a platform for equipment manufacturers, pharmaceutical firms, technology providers and distributors to pursue regional deals.
The event, held under the patronage of the Ministry of Health and with support from the Kenya Healthcare Federation (KHF), also attracted official delegations from Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and other East African markets.
The scale of participation points to growing commercial interest in Kenya as a regional healthcare hub, with suppliers seeking opportunities in medical equipment, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, hospital technology and digital health.
Dr Joe Lenai, Ministry of Health director for primary healthcare, preventive and promotive Health, however, challenged suppliers to go beyond selling equipment and provide long-term maintenance and technical support.
“Africa must no longer be an equipment graveyard, we no longer want equipment that becomes unusable because of a lack of spare parts, maintenance and technical skills,” said Lenai.
He called for manufacturers and distributors to provide service-level agreements covering maintenance, spare parts and local technical capacity.
The call highlights a persistent challenge for African health systems, where expensive medical equipment can remain idle when hospitals lack the expertise or resources needed to maintain it.
Lenai said Kenya’s healthcare reforms were also creating opportunities for investment and local manufacturing.
He pointed to the Primary Care Act, Social Health Insurance Act, Digital Health Act and Facility Improvement Financing Act as reforms aimed at strengthening the healthcare system while creating room for private sector participation.
The exhibition featured medical devices, diagnostics and imaging equipment, hospital consumables, orthopaedics, hospital information technology and digital health solutions, including telemedicine and disease surveillance technologies.
Tom Coleman, Portfolio Director for Healthcare and the organiser of WHX, said the Nairobi event was providing a platform for international healthcare companies to enter or expand their presence in East Africa.
“We had more than 250 international companies here in Nairobi this week for WHX, creating opportunities for investment, knowledge exchange and cross-border partnerships,” Coleman said.
Digital health emerged as a major area of interest, with exhibitors showcasing technologies aimed at improving access to healthcare and medicines beyond major urban centres.
Dr Anne Musuva, chief executive of the Kenya Healthcare Federation, said the combination of private sector participation, digital infrastructure and technical skills was positioning Kenya for greater investment in digital healthcare.
She said the sector now needed to move from fragmented pilot projects towards solutions that can operate securely and at scale.
The event also provided a platform for bilateral trade discussions, with Indonesian companies among exhibitors seeking opportunities in Kenya.
Indonesian Ambassador to Kenya Witjaksono Adji said the participation of Indonesian companies had opened discussions on investment and cooperation between the two countries.
FedEx, the event’s Platinum Partner, said supply chains would be critical as Kenya seeks to expand local production of medicines and medical devices.
Leon Bruwer, managing director, Sales, Sub-Saharan Africa at FedEx, said manufacturers would need reliable cross-border logistics to access suppliers and regional markets.
The Nairobi exhibition is part of WHX’s African portfolio, which also includes healthcare events in Lagos and Johannesburg, connecting international manufacturers with distributors and buyers across the continent.
The next WHX Nairobi is scheduled for September 15–17, 2027, at KICC.