Treasury PS Chris Kiptoo holds a meeting with U.S. Embassy in Kenya Chargé d’Affaires Susan Burns, among other leaders, on June 8, 2026 / HANDOUTThe government has announced plans to implement a five-year Kenya–United States health cooperation programme valued at US$1.6 billion (about Sh207 billion), aimed at strengthening critical components of the country’s health system, the National Treasury has said.
Treasury PS Chris Kiptoo said the programme will support improvements in disease surveillance and outbreak response and laboratory systems strengthening.
The pact will also support the supply of health commodities, transition and support of frontline health workers, and expansion of digital health systems.
PS Kiptoo termed the move a major boost to Kenya’s health sector resilience and preparedness.
"We have reached an 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," the PS said in a statement on X.
The announcement follows a high-level meeting at the National Treasury between senior government officials and Susan Burns, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Kenya, who paid a courtesy call to reaffirm ongoing bilateral engagement.
The PS said the discussions reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to deepening economic cooperation and strengthening longstanding trade and investment ties between Kenya and the United States.
The leaders highlighted the continued role of U.S. companies operating in Kenya, noting their contribution to job creation, skills development, investment inflows and overall economic growth, as part of the broader partnership between the two countries.
The PS underscored the importance of sustained collaboration in advancing shared development priorities, particularly in health systems strengthening and economic transformation.
The programme is expected to enhance Kenya’s capacity to
prevent, detect and respond to disease outbreaks while also modernising health
service delivery through digital innovation and improved infrastructure.
On December 4, 2026, Kenya and the United States signed the Health Cooperation Framework, making Kenya the first country to enter a government-to-government agreement with the US.
In the agreement, the United States will invest directly in government health institutions and not NGOs.
The US will commit $1.6 billion (Sh208 billion) to Kenya over the next five years under the new framework.
The funds will go directly to government institutions, removing third-party involvement to ensure they reach the intended institutions.
President William Ruto witnessed the signing of the Kenya-US Health Cooperation Framework, signed by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, D.C.
Ruto said the agreement will strengthen Kenya’s efforts to realise universal health coverage, modernise hospital equipment, deliver the Social Health Authority’s services, and boost disease surveillance and emergency preparedness.
“The framework we sign today adds momentum to my administration’s universal health coverage that is focused on the supply of modern equipment to our hospitals, efficient and timely delivery of health commodities to our facilities, enhancement of our health workforce, and health insurance for all, and leaving no Kenyan behind,” he said.
Secretary Rubio said the US chose Kenya because of its stable and strong institutions in both government and the health sector.
He noted that the $1.6 billion will not only support medicine but also domestic health infrastructure, ensuring a health system that is self-sustaining.
