Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has held talks with Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Hajj and Umrah, H.E. Tawfigh bin Fawzan, seeking closer cooperation in digital health reforms and improved facilitation of Kenyan pilgrims.
Speaking after the bilateral meeting on Tuesday, Duale said Kenya was keen to draw lessons from Saudi Arabia’s experience in transforming its health sector through technology.
“Saudi Arabia has demonstrated how digital systems can fundamentally improve healthcare delivery, and Kenya is keen to adapt these lessons as we roll out our own digital health agenda,” Duale said.
He noted that discussions focused on potential partnerships that would support Kenya’s Digital Health Agency in improving efficiency, access and service delivery across the health system.
Duale also said the meeting addressed Hajj and Umrah arrangements, which affect thousands of Kenyans each year
“For many Kenyans, Hajj and Umrah are once-in-a-lifetime spiritual journeys, and our responsibility is to ensure that the process is safe, efficient and dignified from departure to return,” he said.
The Health CS said both sides agreed to strengthen coordination to improve pilgrimage management while deepening people-to-people and cultural ties between the two countries.
He described the engagement as a step toward expanding Kenya–Saudi Arabia relations beyond traditional cooperation.
“This partnership is about practical outcomes that directly benefit our people, whether through better healthcare systems or improved services for our pilgrims,” Duale said.
The meeting was attended by Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Khalid Al Salman, and leaders of the Supreme Council of Kenyan Muslims (SUPKEM), including Chairman Hassan Ole Naado, Vice Chair Mukhdar Khitami and Secretary-General Abdullahi Salat.
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