Kenya and the United States have formalized a groundbreaking Sh323 billion health agreement aimed at boosting the country’s disease detection, response, and healthcare delivery.
Signed in Washington on Thursday, the five-year deal requires Kenya to identify potential disease outbreaks within seven days, notify the US within 24 hours, and provide a full response plan within a week—a framework considered a global first following the restructuring of USAid’s support model.
The pact, witnessed by President William Ruto, will see the US provide up to Sh207 billion ($1.6 billion) to fund a wide range of health programmes, including maternal and child health, HIV/Aids, tuberculosis, malaria, polio eradication, and other infectious disease preparedness initiatives.
Additionally, Sh2.9 billion ($22.5 million) has been earmarked specifically for disease surveillance and outbreak response, to be gradually rolled out from 2026 through 2030.
“The Government of Kenya intends to allow the United States Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval or Emergency Use Authorisation of medical countermeasures to be a sufficient basis to use the medical countermeasures to respond to an outbreak in the country in accordance with applicable legislation in Kenya,” the cooperation framework notes.
The agreement also outlines a phased plan for Kenya to assume a larger share of the funding over time, with domestic expenditure expected to rise by Sh111 billion ($850 million) as US support gradually decreases. It is anticipated that Kenya will take on responsibility for supporting health workers initially funded by the US.
President Ruto highlighted the expected benefits, emphasizing the pact’s role in advancing universal health coverage, modernizing hospital equipment, strengthening the Social Health Authority, and improving disease monitoring and emergency preparedness.
“The framework we sign today adds momentum to my administration’s universal health coverage that is focused on the supply of modern equipment to our hospitals, efficient and timely delivery of health commodities to our facilities, enhancement of our health workforce, and health insurance for all, leaving no Kenyan behind,” he said.
He also promised strict accountability, stating, “I assure you that every shilling and dollar will be spent efficiently, effectively and accountably.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that the investment aims to create a sustainable model, combining government support with private sector engagement. “That means money is not just going to be spent to provide medicine and care, it’s going to be spent to improve the healthcare infrastructure so that in five, or six, or seven, or eight years, countries will say we no longer need this much assistance,” he said.
Susan Burns, Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Kenya, described the framework as the product of long negotiations, noting that implementation will strengthen management of health commodities, payments for workers, and the systems Kenya needs to run its health sector efficiently.
She added that all data-sharing will respect Kenya’s privacy laws. Brian Rettmann, Pepfar Country Coordinator, called the agreement “a new way to think about development assistance” and confirmed a separate data-sharing arrangement is included.
