Kenya signs landmark health deal with US despite data fears

December 5, 2025

The United States and Kenya have established a groundbreaking five-year health partnership worth $2. 5 billion, marking the first major bilateral health agreement since the Trump administration restructured its foreign aid approach. Under this arrangement, the US will provide $1.

Who is affected

Kenyan citizens, particularly patients with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and those requiring maternal care
Kenya's healthcare system and workforce
The Kenyan government (President William Ruto, Health Minister Aden Duale)
US government (Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump administration)
NGOs and aid agencies previously involved in health aid distribution in Kenya
Other African countries expected to sign similar agreements
Healthcare workers and hospitals in Kenya

What action is being taken

The US and Kenya are implementing a five-year, $2.5 billion health agreement
The US is contributing $1.7 billion while Kenya is covering $850 million
Kenya is gradually taking on more responsibility for health programs
The agreement is targeting prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, maternal care, polio eradication, and disease outbreak response
De-identified, aggregated health data is being shared between the two countries
The US is shifting foreign aid to flow directly to governments rather than through NGOs and charities

Why it matters

This agreement represents a significant restructuring of how US foreign aid operates in developing countries, shifting from traditional NGO-based distribution to direct government partnerships. The deal has major implications for Kenya's healthcare infrastructure, potentially modernizing hospitals and expanding the health workforce while addressing critical infectious diseases. The data-sharing component raises important questions about medical privacy, sovereignty over national health information, and the balance between transparency requirements and patient confidentiality. Additionally, this sets a precedent for US health diplomacy in Africa, as similar agreements are expected across the continent, potentially reshaping the entire landscape of international health assistance and conditioning aid on alignment with US foreign policy priorities.

What's next

A number of other African countries are expected to sign similar agreements by the end of the year
Kenya will gradually take on more responsibility for health programs over the five-year period
The Kenyan government plans to use funds to purchase modern hospital equipment and boost the health workforce

Read full article from source: BBC