What You Need to Know
The United States has signed a five-year agreement with Kenya to provide over $1.6 billion for the country’s healthcare system. This agreement, the first of its kind under the Trump administration’s new global health strategy, aims to transition from aid dependency to self-reliance in combating diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
Africa. The United States will provide over $1.6 billion to the Kenyan health system under a new five-year agreement, the first of its kind established under the comprehensive reforms of the Trump administration’s foreign aid.
In September, the administration announced a “new global health strategy” under the slogan “America First,” urging poorer countries to take a greater role in combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and polio within their borders, ultimately transitioning from aid dependency to self-reliance.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Kenyan President William Ruto signed a bilateral agreement in which Kenya committed to increasing its health spending by $850 million over the next five years. U.S. officials expect other African nations to sign similar agreements in the coming days.
The new American model for global health follows the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development earlier this year. The U.S. allocated $440 million for health and population programs in Kenya in 2024, the year preceding the Trump administration’s cuts to foreign aid. According to government foreign aid data, most of this amount—$310 million—will be allocated to combat HIV/AIDS.
Rubio stated that the new approach will shift funding away from what he termed the “NGO complex,” which he claimed had taken an disproportionate share of American aid intended for patient assistance. He remarked at the signing ceremony, “We will not go back to doing this.”
The health agreement will transfer U.S. funding from NGOs to the Kenyan government, which will gradually assume responsibility for the health workers initially funded by the U.S. The agreement also calls for treating religious service providers the same as private sector providers in receiving government compensation.
Rubio thanked Kenya for its role in leading a force to suppress gangs in Haiti and urged more countries to contribute to stabilizing the Caribbean nation.
Ruto echoed this call for Haiti and praised the Trump administration’s health initiative, commending previous American aid that has helped save millions of Kenyan lives. Ruto stated, “I assure you that every shilling and every dollar will be spent efficiently, effectively, and accountably.”
The U.S. has historically played a significant role in global health initiatives, particularly in Africa. The new agreement with Kenya reflects a shift in U.S. foreign aid policy, emphasizing self-sufficiency and local governance in health care. This approach follows the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s previous frameworks, aiming to streamline aid and enhance accountability.
Kenya has been a focal point for U.S. health initiatives, receiving substantial funding for programs targeting infectious diseases. The new agreement is expected to set a precedent for similar partnerships with other African nations, promoting a collaborative approach to health challenges.
