WASHINGTON, D.C. – Kenya has become the first African nation to sign a groundbreaking health partnership with the United States, in a move that could reshape the country’s health sector over the next five years.
The Governments of Kenya and the United States today formalized a five-year, $2.5 billion Health Cooperation Framework aimed at saving lives, strengthening Kenya’s health system, and advancing shared global health security priorities.
The deal will see the U.S. contribute up to $1.6 billion over five years toward key health programs, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, polio eradication, disease surveillance, and emergency outbreak response.
Kenya, for its part, has pledged to increase domestic health spending by $850 million over the same period, gradually assuming greater financial responsibility as U.S. support tapers.
“This Framework reaffirms our long-standing partnership with Kenya and our shared commitment to saving lives and building strong, resilient health systems while promoting American interests abroad,” said Brad Smith, Senior Advisor for the Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy at the U.S. Department of State. “Our Framework with Kenya is a model for the types of bilateral health arrangements the United States will be entering into with other countries in the coming months.”
Dr. Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary at Kenya’s State Department for Medical Services, welcomed the agreement, emphasizing the alignment of priorities between the two countries.
“The Kenyan government is already expanding essential health services to all Kenyans and increasing domestic health financing through the Social Health Authority (SHA). This partnership and co-investment are fully aligned and mutually beneficial,” she said.
The Framework introduces several innovative provisions aimed at long-term sustainability.
These include transitioning the procurement of health commodities to Kenya, integrating frontline health workers into the Kenyan payroll, scaling up national health data systems, and developing reimbursement mechanisms for faith-based and private providers.
Performance incentives are also included to ensure key health outcomes are achieved, with funding adjustments tied to results.
Officials said the partnership builds on more than two decades of U.S. investment in Kenya’s health sector, which has totaled over $7 billion since 2003.
Those investments have supported programs that saved lives, strengthened health systems, and laid the foundation for Kenya to take greater ownership of its health agenda.
“The goal of this Framework is clear,” said Smith. “To accelerate Kenya’s path toward a resilient, responsive, and sustainable health system that is ultimately owned and managed by Kenyan institutions and communities, while continuing to protect both Kenyan and American citizens.”
With this agreement, Kenya moves into a new era of health diplomacy and national ownership, setting a potential model for similar partnerships across the continent.
