5 Obligations Kenya Will Have to Meet in Ksh200 Billion US Health Deal

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Kenya will be required to meet a set of strict reporting, financing, and data-sharing obligations under a new health cooperation agreement signed with the United States on December 4, 2025.

The deal, which will see the US fund Kenya’s healthcare system to the tune of Ksh200 billion over five years, is anchored on strengthening Kenya’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats.

Here are the obligations to be met by Kenya in the deal.

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Sharing health data trends

Kenya will also be expected to regularly share health data trends with the US, including disease surveillance data, response outcomes, and system performance indicators.

 While the agreement does not require the sharing of individual patient identifiers, it obliges Kenya to provide timely and accurate aggregate data to inform joint planning and evaluation.

The data-sharing requirement has already sparked debate around data ownership, privacy safeguards, and how the information may be used beyond public health purposes.

“Kenya shall not provide individual-level data or personally identifiable information (PII) to the US government, to the maximum extent practical. This clause exists to protect Kenyans and to eliminate any ambiguity,” Health CS Aden Duale stated.

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Fast reporting of lost or diverted funds

Kenya will be required to inform the US within seven days if any funds allocated under the agreement are lost, misused, or diverted from their intended purpose, particularly money earmarked for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies.

This clause signals heightened financial oversight and accountability in the deal.

"The Government of Kenya intends to strengthen national systems for the timely detection, investigation of cases of loss or diversion, and falsification of health commodities. This includes enhancing KEMSA's internal safeguards, comprising its existing and dedicated Security Department, real-time geo-fenced e-locks, e-POD systems, and oversight by the distribution Monitoring and Evaluation unit. 

"This is in addition to reinforcing the Pharmacy and Poisons Board's (PPB) role in identifying and addressing falsified health products. The Government of Kenya intends to notify the U.S. Government within seven days when there are cases of loss or diversion of US government-funded commodities," read the deal in part.

Acceptance of US drug approvals in emergencies

Under the agreement, Kenya must allow approvals or Emergency Use Authorisations issued by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to serve as a sufficient basis for using medical countermeasures during an outbreak.

This means that in emergencies, vaccines, treatments, or diagnostics authorised by the FDA could be deployed in Kenya without undergoing lengthy local approval processes. 

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Rising budget commitments over five years

The agreement also commits Kenya to progressively increasing its domestic health funding over five years. The US has reserved the right to reduce its financial support if Kenya fails to meet its agreed funding targets.

In the 2026/2027 financial year, Kenya is expected to increase domestic health spending by Ksh10 billion and Ksh20 billion in the 2027/2028  financial year.

In the 2028/2029 financial year, Kenya is required to increase the funding by Ksh35 billion and by Ksh50 billion in the 2029/2030 financial year when the deal expires.

"Both Participants acknowledge that so long as the US Government is providing any funding in support of activities described in this Framework, the US Government has a significant and material interest in ensuring the co-investment outlined in this Paragraph 6.1 occurs," read the deal in part.

"To this end, both Participants acknowledge the US Government plans to decrease its funding if Kenya does not meet the above co-investment."

Rapid outbreak reporting

One of the conditions listed requires the Kenyan government to notify the US within one day of detecting an infectious disease outbreak that could pose a public health risk. 

This obligation is designed to enable early coordination, technical support, and rapid deployment of countermeasures, particularly for diseases with pandemic potential.