Kenya’s Participation in Health Negotiations on the Universal Health Coverage Financing Protocol

Background: Kenya’s health diplomacy has focused on bilateral and multilateral negotiations on health protocols. The 2015 adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 on health, provided a framework for Kenya to strengthen its international health diplomacy and global partnerships. Methods: This study adopted a mixed-methods design combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data were collected from 204 purposively selected participants: 89 government officials, 32 diplomats, and 83 health experts. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically using NVivo and complemented by quantitative data analyzed using SPSS, employing descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and regression analysis. Results: Findings revealed a strong positive and significant correlation between participation in international health negotiations and UHC financing protocols (r = .839, β = 1.107, p < 0.01; R² = 0.704). Qualitative results reinforced that diplomatic engagement enhanced external support and resource mobilization for UHC financing in Kenya. Conclusion: The study concludes that Kenya’s active participation in health protocol negotiations has strengthened its influence in global health governance, despite limited technical expertise and funding.