Gov’t to challenge court decision barring implementation of Ksh.208 billion US health deal

Speaking on Thursday in Sololo, Marsabit County, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the process will be led by the office of the Attorney General, Dorcas Oduor.

His statement came hours after High Court judge Lawrence Mugambi issued conservatory orders halting the implementation of the Kenya-US Health Partnership Framework, signed on December 4, 2025.

A visibly agitated Mudavadi fired a warning shot over attempts to politicize government programs aimed at uplifting the country’s heath standards.

“Kuna wengine kazi yao ni kuamka tu na kusema tutakoroga serikali namna gani. Hata mambo ya matibabu hawataki, wanakimbia kortini kuzuia dawa zisikuje Kenya. Msiingize siasa kwa afya’’ Mudavadi lamented.

Mudavadi said that, while there are attempts to curtail Kenya’s effort, Uganda and Rwanda have also signed the pact with the US to bolster their respective health sector through financial and technical support.

The pact signed is part of President Donald Trump’s "America First Global Health Strategy” that calls for developing nations to play a bigger role in fighting infectious diseases and transition from aid to self-reliance.

‘’Wewe unataka kuzima ya Kenya, Uganda imeweka saini, wewe unataka kuzima ya Kenya, Rwanda imesaini na mataifa mengine yako tayari kuingia kwenye mkataba. Msiweke siasa kwa matibabu ya mwananchi,’’ Mudavadi cautioned.

Mudavadi said through the office of the Attorney General, Dorcas Oduor, the government will present evidence in court to demonstrate the security and relevance of the deal.

‘’Najua ni haki ya mtu kwenda kortini, lakini ofisi ya AG itawajibu kuhusu uvumi wao. Tutawajibu kwa korti kwa ushahidi kuonyesha usalama na umuhimu wa mkataba huo na naamini tutashinda na program ya Kenya itaendelea,” he added.

The deal was suspended after Senator Okiya Omtatah sought a stay on the rollout of the framework, citing data privacy concerns.

Omtatah had also requested the court to prohibit the government from spending public funds, entering into contracts or rolling out any policy measures under the agreement.