Nairobi, Kenya | June 2025 – Kenya is facing a critical shortage of healthcare workers. While the country currently produces around 7,650 new health professionals annually, it needs over 70,000 more to meet demand, according to a recent World Health Organisation (WHO) assessment. If no urgent action is taken, this gap is projected to grow to over 114,000 by 2030—and a staggering 170,000 by 2035.
As Kenya’s population is expected to surpass 63 million by 2030, the demand for healthcare services continues to outpace the growth of the health workforce. The healthcare system cannot scale effectively without a strategic increase in trained personnel, threatening progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a key goal under Kenya’s Vision 2030.
To address this challenge, WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi—Kenya’s premier healthcare and laboratory events—will be held from 6 to 8 October 2025 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). The events will bring together over 300 exhibitors, 20 countries, 65+ international speakers, and 8,000+ attendees, creating an unmatched platform for collaboration, innovation, and investment.
Previously known as Medic East Africa and Medlab East Africa, these events have now rebranded under the World Health Expo (WHX) umbrella. In partnership with Kenya’s Ministry of Health and supported by Africa CDC, Kenya Healthcare Federation, and the Kenya Medical Association, WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi aim to drive transformative change in East Africa’s healthcare landscape.
This year’s event will mark the debut of the Healthcare Leaders Ministerial Roundtable, endorsed by President William Ruto and the Ministry of Health. This exclusive forum will bring together government officials, policymakers, global health leaders, and innovators to develop sustainable strategies to combat the healthcare workforce crisis and other pressing challenges in the region.
Key Focus Areas:
Scaling medical education and training programs
Incentivizing rural healthcare practice
Expanding laboratory science training
Driving investment in healthcare employment
Accelerating innovation in diagnostics and digital health
“Kenya’s journey toward UHC is anchored in Primary Health Care. The transformative health laws passed in 2023 have built a solid foundation. I hope the WHX Nairobi roundtable sparks scalable, people-first healthcare innovations that can be replicated across Africa,” says Desta Lakew, Group Director, Partnerships & External Affairs, AMREF Health Africa.
Deborah Barasa – Cabinet Secretary, Environment, Climate Change & Forestry
Mary Muthoni Muriuki, CBC, HSC – Principal Secretary for Health, Ministry of Health
Lee Maiyani Kinyanjui – Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Trade & Industry
Dr. Mazyanga Lucy Mazaba – Regional Director, Africa CDC
Hon. Beatrice Askul Moe – Cabinet Secretary, East African Community Affairs
“WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi build on a strong legacy to deliver real impact by bringing together the region’s key healthcare leaders to drive innovation, investment, and improved patient outcomes,” says Tom Coleman, Portfolio Director, Informa Markets.
WHX Nairobi will feature six CPD-accredited conferences, including:
Healthcare Policy & Investment
Digital Health
Primary Healthcare
Leaders Forum
WHX Labs Nairobi will focus on diagnostics and lab innovation with sessions on:
Clinical Microbiology & Parasitology
Molecular Diagnostics & Genomics
Laboratory Management
Diagnostic Workforce Development
New country pavilions from Egypt, South Africa, and Brazil will also showcase cutting-edge medical technologies and healthcare solutions.
Driving Social Impact Through Innovation
This year introduces two impactful sustainability initiatives:
Rays of Hope – A partnership with IAEA and GE Healthcare to address the radiologist shortage in East Africa and improve access to cancer diagnostics and care.
Women 50/50 – A gender equity initiative led by Philana Mugyenyi to promote female leadership in healthcare and lab sectors.
WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi are more than events—they are a movement to revolutionize healthcare in Kenya and across East Africa.
👉 Register now:
WHX Nairobi Healthcare Event
WHX Labs Nairobi Event
About World Health Expo (WHX)
The World Health Expo (WHX) is the world’s leading healthcare event platform, with 15 global exhibitions and more than 110 conferences annually. With a network of over 600,000 healthcare professionals, WHX connects stakeholders to inspire innovation, foster business partnerships, and drive progress in healthcare delivery.
Sustainability is at the heart of WHX. Through its Better Stands initiative and three-pillar sustainability strategy—Inspiring Sustainability, Environmental Responsibility, and Social Impact—WHX is committed to creating greener, more inclusive global healthcare systems.
About Informa Markets
Informa is a global leader in events, digital services, and academic research. With over 14,000 colleagues across 30 countries, it connects professionals and businesses with the knowledge they need to grow. Informa is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.