A Kenyan court has temporarily halted the $2.5 billion health cooperation agreement between Kenya and the United States, citing concerns over the transfer of sensitive health and personal data. The Nairobi High Court issued a conservatory order on Monday, effectively suspending the implementation of the Health Cooperation Framework signed on December 4 by President William Ruto and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Justice Mwamuye ordered that neither the Kenyan government nor its agents proceed with the pact while the legal challenge is reviewed.
The petition, filed by the Consumer Federation of Kenya, argued that transferring Kenya’s medical and epidemiological data abroad could cause “permanent and irreversible harm” since local regulators would have limited oversight over how the information is used overseas. The five-year agreement was designed to replace the fragmented aid programs previously managed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) before it was dismantled under the Trump administration. Under the pact, the U.S. will provide $1.7 billion, while Kenya will contribute $850 million.
The cooperation framework aims to support disease prevention and treatment, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, with a focus on faith-based health providers. All clinics and hospitals enrolled in Kenya’s national health insurance scheme are eligible for funding, according to U.S. officials. The court’s suspension marks a significant delay in a program intended to strengthen Kenya’s health system and underscores growing concerns over data privacy in international aid agreements.
