NAIROBI, Kenya – The Health Ministry has raised alarm over proposed budget cuts, warning that the move could cripple key health services, including the provision of life-saving HIV/AIDS drugs.
Medical Services Principal Secretary (PS) Hillary Kimtai told MPs on Tuesday that the ministry urgently needs the Sh254.2 billion slashed in the 2025 Budget Policy Statement restored to prevent a funding crisis.
“The recent challenges of US government funding require the government to intervene to sustain healthcare services in the country,” Kimtai told the National Assembly’s Health Committee, chaired by Endebess MP Robert Pukose.
The ministry had requested Sh426.8 billion for the 2025-26 financial year but was allocated only Sh172.6 billion—a figure Kimtai says is insufficient to sustain critical healthcare programmes.
With international donors, including the US government, reducing financial support, the ministry fears the health sector will struggle to meet its obligations.
One of the biggest casualties of the funding gap is Kenya’s HIV programme, which relies heavily on donor aid.
The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has already announced a Sh2.27 billion cut in funding for Kenya this year, part of a broader shift that has seen allocations decline over time.
PEPFAR has cited Kenya’s slow progress in increasing domestic funding for HIV treatment, despite being one of its largest beneficiaries since 2003.
This year, the US has allocated Kenya $345 million (Sh39.17 billion), down from $365 million (Sh41.44 billion) in 2021.
Kimtai urged Parliament to allocate at least Sh30 billion to purchase HIV drugs, warning that without intervention, thousands of patients could be left without essential treatment.
The funds would also support reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health services, as well as human resources for healthcare.
The PS further called for an additional Sh30 billion to strengthen the country’s publicly funded primary healthcare system, a crucial pillar of the government’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.
Blood transfusion services also remain underfunded, with the ministry seeking Sh3 billion to keep them running following a decline in donor support.
In response to the looming crisis, Health Cabinet Secretary Debra Barasa is scheduled to meet top US embassy officials in Nairobi on Wednesday to discuss the funding cuts.
The government is under pressure to find alternative financing solutions to avoid disruptions in healthcare delivery, particularly for vulnerable populations who rely on public health services.
The budget cuts come at a time when Kenya is trying to expand access to affordable healthcare under the UHC plan.
However, the drastic reduction in funding raises concerns about the government’s ability to sustain key programmes without relying on external donors.
