Ruto Defends Kenya–US Health Deal, Assures Data Security and Sector Transformation
President William Ruto has defended the controversial health agreement Kenya signed with the United States last week, saying the five-year partnership will significantly transform the country’s health sector and inject over Sh200 billion directly into government-led healthcare systems.
Speaking on Wednesday during the 12th National and County Governments Coordinating Summit at State House, Nairobi, the Head of State dismissed claims that the government had traded Kenyans’ health data to foreign entities, terming the allegations as baseless propaganda.
“We are proud of the partnership between the National and County governments, a partnership that has strengthened devolution and brought services closer to the people. This collaboration has turned counties into engines of growth and champions of responsive, people-centred delivery,” President Ruto said.
He noted that counties across the country have made notable progress under the Social Health Authority reforms, expanded agricultural value chains, advanced County Aggregation and Industrial Parks, and adopted digital systems to modernise public service delivery.
The President said the partnership with the United States will reinforce Kenya’s healthcare systems, describing health as a shared responsibility between the national and county governments. He added that, for the first time in Kenya’s history, the full delineation, unbundling and gazettement of devolved functions has been completed, ensuring clarity of roles and that resources follow functions.
However, Ruto expressed concern over delays in implementing previous summit resolutions, calling on institutions responsible to act with urgency and uphold the spirit of intergovernmental cooperation.
A total of 47 county governments joined the national executive at State House to reflect on the achievements and challenges of devolution. The summit also served as a platform for the President to assure county leaders and Kenyans that the Kenya–US health deal will directly benefit public healthcare.
President Ruto said the five-year agreement will redirect more than Sh200 billion that previously passed through non-governmental organisations into government health systems, strengthening service delivery at both national and county levels. He accused some aggrieved NGOs of attempting to undermine the partnership.
“The allegations that Kenya’s health data is at stake are false. Kenya has sufficient data protection laws to safeguard the privacy and security of our citizens,” he said.
The President further noted that the wide-ranging partnerships between Kenya and the United States in defence, tourism, capital markets, labour and health demonstrate a strong and documented bilateral relationship between the two nations.
