Ministry of Health assures public of data privacy in new US cooperation deal
Kenya and the US have signed a Sh220 billion health cooperation and data sharing deal. Officials say only anonymised, aggregated data will be shared under Kenyan law, aiming for a self-reliant health system.
Kenya has taken steps to reassure citizens concerned about the safety of their health information following the signing of a new Health Cooperation Framework and Data Sharing Agreement with the United States (US).
Speaking from Washington, D.C., Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said any health data exchanged under the agreement will be “de-identified and aggregated” and remain fully regulated by Kenya’s Digital Health Act and Data Protection Act.
“Your health data is a national strategic asset. Your privacy, your security - our responsibility,” Duale said, underlining that any transfer of information must have approval from both the Directorate of Health Analytics (DHA) and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.
The agreement, signed in the presence of President William Ruto, formalises the Kenya-US health partnership through binding legal frameworks for the first time.
The US has pledged $1.6 billion (approximately Sh220 billion) over the next five years to support Kenya’s goal of creating a fully domestically financed and self-reliant health system.
The funding will enhance programs tackling HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, strengthen laboratory and disease surveillance systems, support digital health infrastructure, and improve emergency response capabilities.
In return, Kenya has committed to gradually increasing domestic health financing, aiming to contribute up to Sh50 billion annually by 2030 under reforms led by the Social Health Authority (SHA).
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the framework aligns with the America First Global Health Strategy, which focuses on sustainable partnerships, reduced aid dependency, and direct government-to-government cooperation.
President William Ruto looks on as Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio shake hands following the signing of the direct health funding pact. (Photo: PCS)
“We are not going to spend billions funding the NGO industrial complex while close and important partners like Kenya have little influence over how healthcare money is spent,” Rubio said. “Kenya has strong institutions, and we are proud that this is the first fully fledged agreement of its kind.”
The agreement expects Kenya to progressively take over responsibility for US-funded health commodities and health personnel by 2031, with a value of $141 million (Sh18.2 billion).
The Ministry confirmed that all aspects of the partnership are grounded in Kenyan laws, including the Digital Health Act, 2023; the Data Protection Act, 2019; the Health Act, 2017; and related regulations.
The Data Sharing Agreement is limited to the duration of the Health Cooperation Framework and will be made publicly accessible to enhance transparency and accountability.
It outlines joint priorities in disease surveillance, laboratory and diagnostic systems, human resource development, digital health modernisation, management of strategic health commodities, research collaboration, and emergency preparedness.
The overarching goal is to transition Kenya toward a sustainable and locally managed health system with reduced reliance on external donors by 2030.
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Duale stressed that no personal or identifiable data will be shared with any foreign government or organisation.
“Only anonymised, aggregated data may be exchanged and always under Kenyan supervision,” he said. “This agreement strengthens our health system without compromising the rights of any Kenyan.”
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to universal health coverage as a key pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
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