Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni Muriuki, has been appointed chairperson of a key task force under the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to strengthen immunisation programmes across the continent.
In an appointment letter dated October 15, Africa CDC Director General Dr Jean Kaseya named Muriuki chair of Task Force 4 of the Continental Immunization Forum (CIF), which focuses on country alignment, partnerships and accelerating the delivery of immunisation programmes.
The appointment follows Muriuki’s acceptance of the role.
“On behalf of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), I am pleased to formally appoint you as Chair of Task Force 4: Country Alignment, Partnerships and Delivery Acceleration, following your acceptance to serve,” read part of the letter.
According to the letter, she will help align strategic partners, strengthen country ownership of immunisation programmes and accelerate implementation across African countries.
She will also bring her regional and implementation experience to address challenges, promote accountability among partners and ensure that immunisation partnerships respond to the different needs of individual countries.
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Mary Muthoni Role in Africa’s Immunisation Agenda
The Continental Immunisation Forum is an Africa-led platform established to strengthen political leadership, accountability, investment and coordination in immunisation.
The forum is expected to translate the Continental Immunisation Strategy 2026–2030 into measurable country-level actions through strategic task forces.
In her role, Mary Muthoni will work with African Union member states and partners while respecting national priorities and existing African Union governance arrangements.
Africa CDC said the position is strategic and unpaid. The organisation will provide secretariat support, coordination and governance documents to support the task force’s work.
Her participation will include an annual in-person forum meeting and virtual engagements when required.
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Inaugural Meeting Set for November
Mary Muthoni is expected to take up her leadership role during the inaugural Continental Immunization Forum meeting scheduled for November 23–26,in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The meeting will take place alongside the International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA).
“The inaugural CIF meeting, to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 23-26 November 2026, in conjunction with CPHIA, will provide an important opportunity for you to exercise your leadership in shaping Africa’s immunization agenda, strengthening political commitment and advancing collective accountability for results,” stated Africa CDC.
According to Africa CDC, the gathering will provide an opportunity to shape the continent’s immunisation agenda, strengthen political commitment and improve collective accountability for results.
The organisation said it would provide Muriuki with a briefing ahead of the meeting, while the programme and logistical arrangements would be communicated separately.
As chairperson, she will also be expected to uphold integrity, transparency, and confidentiality, and to disclose and manage any potential conflicts of interest.
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