Dr Kimambo welcomed as new acting Country Representative to Kenya

Nairobi - Dr Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, the new acting WHO Representative to Kenya, held her first official meeting with Cabinet Secretary for Health Honourable Aden Duale on 4 February 2026. The meeting set the agenda for 2026 and reaffirmed WHO's commitment to supporting the Ministry of Health.

During the meeting, Dr Kimambo emphasised the importance of the partnership between WHO and the Government of Kenya. "This partnership remains pivotal to advancing Kenya's health agenda, safeguarding health security to improve health of the people of Kenya," she said.

CS Duale outlined Kenya's ongoing health sector reforms and strategic priorities for collaboration, as well as two upcoming global health events to be hosted in Kenya: the International Maternal Newborn Health Conference in March and the World Health Summit Regional Meeting in April.

About Dr Kimambo

Dr Kimambo is a senior public health specialist and paediatrician with over 25 years of experience in public health leadership, health systems strengthening, and policy implementation.

She served as WHO Representative to Malawi from 2022 to 2025 and as Medical Officer for Child and Adolescent Health at the WHO Regional Office for Africa from 2018 to 2022, where she provided technical leadership on quality of care, nutrition, and maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health across Member States. While at the Regional Office, she served as Acting WHO Representative to Ghana from 2019 to 2021.

Prior to joining WHO, Dr Kimambo held senior positions in Tanzania's Ministry of Health, including Director of Preventive Services, leading national preventive and promotive health programmes. She also served as Senior Adviser to the former President of the United Republic of Tanzania on reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health, and was his liaison to the United Nations Commission on Information and Accountability for Women's and Children's Health.

Dr Kimambo holds a Doctor of Medicine and Master of Medicine in Paediatrics and Child Health from the University of Dar es Salaam, and a Master of Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Dr Kimambo is committed to strengthening health systems and advancing universal health coverage in Kenya, and across the African region, working in close partnership with the Ministry of Health under CS Aden Duale's leadership.