NAIROBI, Kenya — The Ministry of Health is now pushing for Kenya’s health data to be processed and hosted on locally developed platforms, following the abrupt withdrawal of U.S. funding that left the country locked out of critical medical systems.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, addressing the World Health Assembly in Geneva last week, called on African nations to reduce dependence on donor-backed health information systems and invest in secure, homegrown alternatives.
“The recent challenges have underscored the vulnerabilities in our health data infrastructure,” Duale said. “It’s imperative that we invest in secure, locally managed data systems to ensure continuity and resilience in our healthcare delivery.”
The United States, Kenya’s largest health sector donor, halted funding for most digital health systems in February—part of a freeze initiated in January under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Since then, health officials have struggled to access backend databases that form the backbone of disease surveillance and evidence-based decision-making.
In March, several ministry staff said they had lost access to key platforms supported by USAID, leaving them unable to reanalyse medical records for research or policy planning.
HIV Data Access Still Limited
Despite government assurances, officials working in HIV programming say they still cannot fully access platforms previously supported by U.S. aid.
In a statement on April 4, the Ministry of Health insisted that sensitive patient data, particularly on HIV and sexually transmitted infections, was “securely stored” on government servers and remained unaffected by the suspension of U.S. aid.
“The Ministry wishes to assure all Kenyans that data collected on HIV and STIs is primarily used to support patient care and service delivery,” the statement read. “This data is securely stored in servers hosted by the Ministry of Health and is only accessible to authorised personnel.”
However, the ministry’s own internal report dated March 10 painted a different picture.
It confirmed that major health systems—including KHIS2, KenyaEMR, KMFL, Chanjo KE, Afya KE, Damu KE and Kemsa I-LMIS—are now grappling with maintenance gaps and technological shortfalls.
“With donor funds curtailed, these platforms now suffer from maintenance gaps and technology shortages, severely hindering Kenya’s ability to monitor public health trends and respond promptly to emerging crises,” the report said.
The report warned of a potential “domino effect” on health outcomes as Kenya’s surveillance capabilities are undermined.
Legal and Ethical Concerns
The Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network (KELIN) has also raised concerns over foreign access to sensitive patient data.
In March, the network wrote to Data Commissioner Margaret Kassait seeking clarity on the government’s efforts to protect personal data now hosted by USAID-funded implementing partners.
While the ministry maintains that most platforms are “managed” by the Kenyan government, many are physically hosted on servers operated by external partners, raising questions about data sovereignty.
National Surveys Affected
The impact of the funding freeze has extended beyond digital platforms. The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS)—a cornerstone of national health planning—has been suspended.
The KDHS, run by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and funded by USAID, collects data on fertility, maternal health, child nutrition and disease burden. It is a key source of evidence for policymaking.
Last month, UNAIDS reported that Kenya could no longer access health information through the Kenya Health Information System (KHIS), calling it a serious blow to HIV surveillance and broader health planning.
