The United States and Kenya have finalized a five-year, 1.6-billion-dollar health cooperation agreement, marking the first deal implemented under Washington’s new America First Global Health Strategy. The pact was signed in Washington, D.C., by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Kenyan President William Ruto, according to Reuters.
The agreement represents a shift in U.S. global health financing, with funds now directed primarily through government health institutions rather than international nongovernmental organisations. Most of the 1.6 billion dollars will be provided by the United States, while Kenya has committed an additional 850 million dollars to expand national health capacity and strengthen system governance, as reported by the Washington Post.
The partnership aims to reinforce Kenya’s fight against HIV, malaria, tuberculosis and other major infectious diseases while expanding disease surveillance and emergency response systems. A joint statement from both governments highlighted that the deal is designed to build long-term resilience across Kenya’s health sector.
Kenyan officials described the agreement as a significant step toward the country’s universal health coverage agenda. President Ruto said the partnership reflects Kenya’s commitment to improving access to modern health services and ensuring that national health institutions remain accountable for the delivery of critical public health programs, according to the Kenyan presidency.
