Kenya has become the first country in Africa to sign the historic Health Cooperation Framework with the United States Government, in a bid to strengthen the Universal Health Coverage agenda.
The deal was signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on Thursday December 4, 2025, in Washington DC, United States, in a ceremony witnessed by President Ruto.
The agreement will see the United States commit 1.6 billion dollars (approximately Ksh207 billion) to Kenya’s health system over the next five years.
In a statement issued after the signing of the agreement, President Ruto lauded President Trump’s administration for prioritizing Kenya in the implementation of the framework, further reiterating that the gesture reflects US’s confidence in Kenya’s healthcare systems.
“We express our deep appreciation to the Government of the United States, under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, for choosing Kenya as the first nation to sign such a Framework. This decision reflects growing confidence in the strength, sustainability, and reform momentum of our healthcare systems,” Ruto said.
According to Ruto, “The framework prioritises the supply of modern medical equipment to our hospitals, the efficient and timely delivery of essential health commodities to our facilities, the upscaling of our health workforce, and the expansion of health insurance to ensure that every Kenyan is protected.”
The head of state added that the deal will not only boost the bilateral ties between the United States and Kenya, but also position the country as a regional health hub.
Under the new agreement, Kenya and US will collaborate in surveillance and outbreak response, laboratory systems, human resource for health as well as digital transformation of the health sector.
Ministry of Health asserted that the partnership will enable Kenya transition towards a fully domestic financed, self-reliant health system, with the resources bolstering its efforts in combating HIV, Malaria and TB.
