NAIROBI, 21 Dec. - (ANA)- Criticism of a $2.5 billion health cooperation agreement between Washington and Nairobi is growing in Kenya over data privacy concerns, sparking calls for other African countries signing deals with the US to demand “fair terms.” Kenya became the first country to sign a new health agreement with Washington this month, but a Kenyan court last week suspended implementation of the deal.

 

The Trump administration’s America First Global Health Strategy — a successor to USAID, which previously funded vital health programs across Africa — is in line with its more business-led approach to the continent. Washington’s strategy emphasizes its priorities, such as preventing disease outbreaks before they reach the US, and commits partner countries to increasing their health spending.

 

Kenya became the first country to sign a new health agreement with Washington this month, and several African countries including Rwanda, Uganda, Liberia, Lesotho, and Eswatini have signed similar deals since.

 

Eswatini, Lesotho, Liberia, and Rwanda have signed similar deals to the one agreed with Kenya. But last week, 50 civil society organizations from across the continent published a letter to African governments warning that the agreements “undermine your national health and personal security.” President William Ruto has accused nonprofits previously involved in US health programs of spreading misinformation about the Kenyan deal, without providing evidence to support his claims.  

 

A key sticking point for the Kenya-US deal is a provision that allows the sharing of sensitive health data and information on pathogens for up to 25 years, even after the termination of any agreements. 

 

The US would also gain extensive access to Kenyan health management systems and electronic medical records, fuelling concerns on data protection and conformity with local laws. 

 

Fifty civil society organizations from around the continent last week published a letter calling on African governments to demand “fair terms” with Washington. They warned that “these agreements would give the US undue leverage over your governments, including to decrease or cancel health assistance for perceived noncompliance, and undermine your national health and personal security.”

 

Kenya’s President William Ruto has accused nonprofits previously involved in US health programs of spreading misinformation about the deal but has not provided any evidence to support his claims. “If anybody is annoyed, they should take their anger to another place,” he said, suggesting critics take up their concerns with Washington. 

 

The courts have given Kenya’s government until January 16 to file its response, with the matter scheduled to return to court on February 12. - (ANA) - 

 

 

AB/ANA/21 December 2025 - - -