The Gates Foundation, formerly the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has officially withdrawn from its Host Country Agreement with Kenya, ending a deal that had granted it diplomatic immunity.
The move, announced Tuesday by Dr. Paulin Basinga, the Foundation’s Africa Director, follows a prolonged legal battle triggered by a petition from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK). The agreement, signed in October 2024, granted the Foundation legal and tax privileges akin to those of diplomatic missions.
Dr. Basinga said the decision was mutual and aimed at shifting focus back to the Foundation’s work in Kenya. “The legal case surrounding the Host Country Agreement has drawn attention away from our core mission,” he stated, confirming that the Foundation’s Nairobi office would continue operations as normal.
The court had earlier issued conservatory orders suspending the privileges, following LSK’s challenge that diplomatic immunity for a private entity was inappropriate and potentially dangerous. On Monday, the court gave the government 21 days to confirm the withdrawal of the immunity deal.
The Foundation reiterated its commitment to supporting Kenya’s development, despite the withdrawal from the contested agreement.
