Kenya and the United States have reached an agreement on the implementation of a five-year health cooperation programme valued at US$1.6 billion (approximately KSh206 billion), aimed at strengthening the country’s healthcare systems and improving public health outcomes.
The partnership will focus on key areas including disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and response, laboratory systems strengthening, health commodities management, frontline health workforce transition and the expansion of digital health systems.
National Treasury Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo announced the agreement following a meeting with U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to Kenya Susan Burns, who paid a courtesy call at the National Treasury.
“We have reached agreement on the implementation of the Kenya–U.S. Health Cooperation Partnership, a five-year programme valued at US$1.6 billion. The programme will support disease surveillance and outbreak response, laboratory systems strengthening, health commodities, frontline health workforce transition and digital health systems,”Principal Secretary, The National Treasury said in a statement on social media.
According to Dr. Kiptoo, the programme reflects the strong and longstanding partnership between Kenya and the United States in advancing healthcare, economic development and investment.
The health initiative is expected to enhance Kenya’s capacity to detect and respond to disease outbreaks, strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve access to essential health services across the country.
During the meeting, the two officials also discussed broader economic relations between Kenya and the United States, reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation in trade, investment and development.
Dr. Kiptoo noted that American companies operating in Kenya continue to play a significant role in supporting economic growth through investments, job creation and skills development.
He said the contribution of U.S. firms highlights the strong economic ties that exist between the two countries and underscores the importance of continued collaboration in key sectors of the economy.
The discussions further focused on opportunities to strengthen bilateral trade and attract more investment, with both sides expressing optimism about the future of Kenya-U.S. relations.
The new health partnership comes at a time when Kenya is seeking to strengthen its healthcare systems through increased investment in public health infrastructure, workforce development and technology-driven healthcare solutions.
Officials said the programme is expected to contribute significantly to the country’s efforts to build a resilient and responsive healthcare system capable of addressing both current and emerging health challenges.