Kenya and the United States have signed a landmark health cooperation agreement that will inject $1.6 billion into Kenya’s health sector over five years.
The deal, endorsed in Washington, DC, positions Kenya as the first African nation to enter a government-to-government health framework with the US.
President William Ruto hailed the agreement as a milestone in Kenya’s drive toward universal health coverage and a shift in how external health funding is managed.
He said all resources will now flow directly through Kenyan government systems to strengthen transparency, improve efficiency and ensure support reaches intended beneficiaries.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Kenya was selected as the inaugural partner due to its stability, strong institutions and longstanding ties with Washington.
Rubio noted that the US intends to expand similar agreements to other nations but emphasised that Kenya’s governance record made it the natural starting point.
Ruto said the framework will prioritise modern medical equipment, consistent supply chains, expansion of the health workforce and broader insurance access for citizens.
He added that the structure eliminates third-party intermediaries and aligns external support with Kenya’s national health reform agenda.
The president thanked Washington for choosing Kenya as the first signatory, saying the move reflects growing confidence in the country’s health sector reforms.
Officials described the agreement as the most comprehensive restructuring of US–Kenya health cooperation in decades.
The new framework builds on more than 25 years of collaboration in programmes targeting HIV/AIDS, malaria, maternal health, research and disease surveillance.
US funding in that period has exceeded $7 billion, making Washington one of Kenya’s most significant long-term health partners.
Ruto said the latest arrangement marks the beginning of a new phase aimed at delivering equitable, reliable and sustainable health services nationwide.
