In a pressing call to action, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for the State Department of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development, Hon. Susan Auma Mang’eni, has urged African countries to prioritize domestic resource mobilization in the fight against malaria.
Speaking at the 2025 End Malaria Councils (EMCs) and Funds Chairs dinner, Mang’eni highlighted Kenya’s current financial gap of US$33 million in its malaria control efforts, emphasizing the need for local ownership and investment as donor funding dwindles.
The event, convened to secure the estimated US$6.3 billion annually required to sustain and expand malaria control efforts across Africa, underscored the urgency of the situation.
Mang’eni stressed that the African Union’s ambitious goal to eliminate malaria by 2030 demands collective action from governments, the private sector, civil society, and communities.
Kenya remains in a critical battle against malaria, with the disease accounting for 15% of outpatient consultations nationally in 2023, according to USAID.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that a continued flatlining of malaria resources over 2027-2029 could result in 112 million additional cases and up to 280,700 deaths across Africa.
The EMCs, leveraging their influence and expertise, have mobilized over $125 million in financial and in-kind support in 2024 alone.
However, the Global Fund, which provides 62% of international malaria financing, faces challenges due to donor fatigue and shifting global priorities.
Co-hosted by the End Malaria Council (EMC) Kenya and the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), the meeting rallied governments, private sector leaders, and civil society to push for the full replenishment of the Global Fund, Africa’s financial backbone in combating malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.
“We must not let malaria outmaneuver us. It’s time to rally our resources and suppress this age-old adversary,” Mang’eni said, urging African nations to look inward for solutions amidst declining donor support.
Despite its devastating impact on health and economic productivity, malaria remains heavily reliant on external aid.
The Global Fund has invested over $19.1 billion in malaria control, yet leaders warn of a precarious funding landscape due to donor fatigue and economic volatility.
Chris Getonga, Chairman of EMC Kenya, echoed the urgency, stating, “To achieve the Kenya Malaria Strategy’s goal of reducing malaria incidence, resource mobilization and collaboration are our most potent weapons.”
The high-stakes gathering, attended by representatives from government, business, and civil society, highlighted the continent-wide consensus that defeating malaria requires more than goodwill—it demands money, innovation, and unwavering commitment.
The meeting comes at a critical juncture, with a U.S. executive order temporarily freezing foreign aid, threatening malaria drug supplies in nations reliant on USAID support.
With Kenya reporting 3.42 million confirmed malaria cases in 2022 and facing a national funding gap of Ksh 24 billion, the stakes are higher than ever.
