The Aga Khan University (AKU) will host the World Health Summit (WHS) Regional Meeting 2026, a landmark event that will bring together over 2,000 global health leaders, policymakers, innovators and researchers from across Africa and the world.
The summit will be held on April 27–29, 2026 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi under the theme: “Reimagining Africa’s Health Systems: Innovation, Integration, and Interdependence.” The summit through plenary sessions, high-level dialogues, and collaborative workshops, participants will explore African-led solutions and generate actionable recommendations that contribute to both regional progress and the global health agenda.
“This is a significant milestone not only for our university and Kenya but for Africa’s health and development agenda,” said Professor Lukoye Atwoli, Dean of AKU Medical College, East Africa, and Incoming International President of the WHS Regional Meeting 2026. “The summit will spotlight African-led solutions while shaping the broader global health conversation.”
Speaking on behalf of KICC, Geoffrey Thande, Director of Business Development, noted: “KICC continues to spearhead strategic collaborations with partners such as the Aga Khan University and other local and international organizations to secure world-class conventions, ensuring Kenya’s visibility and competitiveness on the global stage.”
He added that the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector is a vital driver of economic growth, aligned with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). Hosting the 2026 Summit is expected to inject an estimated KES 3.8 billion into the economy through the multiplier effect of business events tourism.
Since its founding in 2009, the World Health Summit in Berlin has become one of the most influential global platforms for advancing health as a pillar of sustainable development. In addition to the annual Berlin meeting, WHS organizes regional meetings hosted by members of the WHS Academic Alliance in different parts of the world. These regional gatherings address local and regional health challenges while feeding into the broader dialogue at the global summit.
The Nairobi meeting will bring together health Ministers from across Africa, leaders from the Ministry of Health, Kenya, Africa CDC, WHO, UNICEF, and the African Union, representatives from leading universities, global and regional foundations, civil society organizations, private sector and development partners committed to strengthening Africa’s health systems.
The 2026 Regional Meeting will serve as a catalyst for collaboration, fostering new partnerships across governments, academia, civil society, and the private sector. Outcomes from the Nairobi meeting will directly inform regional and global deliberations, advancing progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Prof. Atwoli added: “Hosting this summit reflects AKU’s impact and influence as a thought leader in health, higher education, and innovation, not just in East Africa but across the globe. It reaffirms our commitment to shaping a healthier, more equitable future through research, education, and engagement.”
