Kenya’s health system faces significant strain due to cuts in foreign aid, threatening decades of progress in critical areas like HIV, malaria, and maternal health. However, this crisis is also seen as an opportunity to build resilience through homegrown innovations, reducing dependence on international donors.

• Foreign aid cuts have led to disruptions in medicine stockouts, job losses, and stalled health programs, with a freeze in US funding earlier this year impacting antiretroviral drug supplies and malaria prevention.
• Dr. Stella Kivila, Director of Health Tech Strategy and Impact at Salient Advisory, emphasizes that innovation, beyond just technology, involves "re-engineering how health systems work so they can withstand future shocks."
• Initiatives like myDAWA (digital medicine ordering) and Figorr (traceability for waste reduction) showcase Kenya's innovative capacity, with Salient Advisory's Investing in Innovation program demonstrating up to a 30% reduction in medicine costs through joint procurement.