NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya and the United States are set to deepen their long-standing partnership in public health after the Cabinet approved a new Kenya–United States Health Cooperation Framework aimed at sustaining the fight against HIV, tuberculosis (TB), malaria and emerging infectious diseases while strengthening the country’s transition to a self-reliant healthcare system.
The framework was endorsed during a Cabinet meeting chaired by President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi, as part of a series of reforms and investments intended to improve healthcare delivery and reinforce Kenya’s health security.
According to the Cabinet communiqué, the agreement seeks to preserve gains made over decades of collaboration between Kenya and the United States in combating infectious diseases while shifting towards a more sustainable, locally driven health system.
The framework will support disease surveillance, strengthen laboratory services, enhance digital health systems and improve the supply of essential medical commodities across the country. It also provides for the gradual integration of more than 13,000 frontline health workers currently supported through United States-funded programmes into Kenya’s public health workforce.
The move comes at a time when Kenya is pursuing broader health sector reforms under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda, with the Government seeking to reduce dependence on external donor funding while maintaining critical health services.
For years, US-backed programmes have played a significant role in Kenya’s response to HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria through funding for treatment, prevention, laboratory systems and healthcare personnel.
The new cooperation framework is expected to ensure continuity of these programmes while gradually increasing domestic ownership of health services and workforce financing.
Cabinet said strengthening disease surveillance and laboratory capacity will also improve Kenya’s ability to detect and respond rapidly to emerging infectious diseases, reducing the risk of future public health emergencies.
The adoption of digital health systems under the framework is expected to enhance patient management, improve data sharing and support evidence-based decision-making across national and county health facilities.
Alongside the new partnership, Cabinet also approved the Sh4.5 billion Mother-and-Child Lifeline Initiative, a collaboration with Amsons Group that will see the construction of 10 Level 4 and Level 5 mother-and-child hospitals across the country, including facilities in Nairobi, Garissa, Embu, Kisumu, West Pokot, Uasin Gishu, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kwale and Bomet counties.
The initiative will complement the Sh7.8 billion second phase of the Kenya-Austria Mother and Child – Our Future Project, with both programmes expected to modernise maternal and neonatal care at Kenyatta National Hospital, expand specialised healthcare services and strengthen the country’s health workforce.