Bill & Melinda Gates foundation, Nairobi sub-regional offices officially opened

Nairobi, 

Friday, 15 November, 2024 

McCreadie Andias 

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia and CS For Foreign and Diaspora affairs Musalia Mudavadi today led the opening of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s new sub-regional office in Nairobi. 

This office joins others across Africa, including in Dakar, Addis Ababa, Abuja, and Johannesburg which will be part of it's broader commitment to partnership across the continent.

These foundation will help the country achieve development goals including advancing health priorities, increasing the productivity of smallholder farmers, deepening financial inclusion, and supporting women's & and communities' economic empowerment.

The launch comes nearly a month after the founding was granted special status in the Country in accordance with the immunities and Privileges Act, a move that sparked controversy over lack of public participation and due process in it's approval. 

A Kenyan firm went ahead to seek information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on disclosure about the immunities and privileges agreement with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.The firm cited constitutional requirements for transparency and accountability.

During today's event, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi revealed that the privileges and immunities granted to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation were standard practice.

In his statement , Mudavadi noted that all legal procedures were followed before the gazette notice was published.According to the PCS, the move was aimed at helping the foundation undertake its programmes seamlessly.

Mudavadi detailed that the foundation was keen on undertaking various programmes aimed at uplifting the lives of Kenyans and communities in the country.

“Diplomatic privileges and immunities are tools, not trophies. They are meant to facilitate the seamless operation of organizations that advance public good, much like the foundational principles of the Vienna Convention,” the PCS explained.

Further, he maintained that there were various safeguards in place to ensure that the privileges and immunities were not abused.

“These privileges are not a blank cheque but a carefully calibrated mechanism to enable organizations like the Gates Foundation to deliver impactful programs without bureaucratic hindrance," Mudavadi remarked.

“We believe that robust dialogue is healthy for our democracy and governance. It is through such engagements that we refine our policies and reinforce our commitment to transparency and accountability."

Meanwhile, the Foundation noted that the office will be a key hub for advancing it's global health and development priorities across the continent, ensuring greater proximity to the challenges and opportunities on the ground.

The Gates Foundation has been widely criticized by many for conspiring to polute health, both that of humans and livestock. A number of people have linked the recent concurrent POLIO vaccination to the Foundation as well as the recently announced mass livestock vaccination.

The foundation has however distanced itself from the allegations, insisting that it's operations in Kenya will be centred on key projects under review, including agriculture for improved food security and health focusing on maternal healthcare programs designed to reduce maternal mortality which are core to the attainment of BETA and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.