Health PS Ouma Oluga says new Kenya-US deal is 'for best interests of our people’

The Ksh.208 billion deal, signed in Washington, D.C., follows months of high-level negotiations between the two governments. Under the agreement, the United States will, over the next five years, invest directly in key government health institutions, including the Social Health Authority (SHA), the Digital Health Agency (DHA), and the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA).

Dr. Oluga, who led the Kenyan delegation throughout the negotiation process, described the pact as a landmark achievement that aligns seamlessly with Kenya’s ongoing health sector reforms.

“It has been a great honour leading the Kenyan team in the negotiations with the American team,” Dr. Oluga said during the signing ceremony on Thursday in Washington, D.C.

In a statement, the PS underscored that the negotiations were firmly anchored on securing the best possible deal for Kenyans, noting that the framework is expected to provide long-term funding certainty for critical government programmes.

“The engagements which began on August 27 2025, finally resulted in this signing today. I can confirm we promoted the best interests of our people, ensuring critical service certainty as well as alignment with the Kenyan government agenda in spirit and letter of every paragraph. This cooperation framework is quite a departure from the past and will have a lasting impact on health for all,” he said.

According to Dr. Oluga, the framework moves beyond traditional aid approaches by embedding mutual accountability, domestic financing commitments, and long-term planning to ensure health system stability and uninterrupted service delivery.

“We shall implement this framework efficiently, effectively and with accountability,’’ PS Dr. Oluga said.

The framework signed on Thursday establishes a long-term partnership focused on expanding health financing, strengthening primary healthcare, and enhancing the delivery of essential services to all Kenyans. It also provides for co-investment, capacity building, and predictable support for priority health programmes.

Dr. Oluga said the signing marks one of the most significant Kenya–US health agreements in recent years, reflecting deepening cooperation between the two nations.

With its comprehensive scope and emphasis on predictability, the framework is expected to shape health outcomes for years, particularly in primary healthcare, disease prevention, and health workforce development.

President William Ruto, who witnessed the signing of the deal alongside his US counterpart Donald Trump, welcomed the partnership, noting that it builds on Kenya’s efforts to expand essential services and mobilize domestic resources through the SHA.

“The Kenyan government is already expanding essential health services to all Kenyans and increasing domestic health financing through the Social Health Authority,” President Ruto said.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale echoed the President’s sentiments, emphasizing that the partnership represents a new chapter in Kenya–US collaboration in the health sector.

“Kenya welcomes this partnership and the co-investment it represents,” he said.

According to the two governments, the deal is expected to unlock greater sustainability for health programmes previously reliant on short-term donor cycles.