'Nobody will take advantage of Kenyans': Ruto defends health agreement signed with the US

President William Ruto has assured the country that the Kenya-United States Health Cooperation Framework will not take advantage of Kenyans or short-change the country.

The President said the agreement is anchored on solid legal ground and guided by the principle of security and the interests of the people of Kenya.

He explained that the agreement will not undermine the rights of Kenyans, including on health data.

The President pointed out that the Office of the Attorney General examined the agreement thoroughly and ensured that Kenya's law governing data takes precedence.

“Our goal is crystal clear, our focus is laser sharp, and our resolve and determination is that of steel in making sure that we not only centralise the interest of the people of Kenya, but also pursue what is good for our nation,” he said.

He went on: “Nobody and no government will take advantage of the people of Kenya or the government of Kenya as long as I am President."

President Ruto was speaking when he chaired the 12th National and County Governments Coordinating Summit at State House, Nairobi, on Wednesday.

The summit brought together representatives from both levels of government, including Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet Secretaries and Governors, led by Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, who is also the Chair of the Council of Governors, among others.

The President warned of deliberate misinformation by agencies that previously benefited from acting as third parties in US-funded health programmes.

He explained that it was the US Government that made the decision not to fund the "NGO industrial complex".

“If they (NGOs) have a problem with the current structure, they should speak to the Government of the United States because it is the one which decided that, for efficiency, they want these resources to come directly to the government,” he said.

The President told governors that these funds will reach counties to support the healthcare sector.

He informed them that the US is supporting Kenya’s healthcare to the tune of over $1.6 billion (KSh208 billion) over the next five years.

He said Kenya did not become the first country to sign the agreement by chance, but by design, with the US recognising the efficiency of Kenyan institutions and the effectiveness of human capital.

The President explained that the agreement was requested by the Government of Kenya because of the significance of healthcare in the country.

He said the US continues to be a close partner of Kenya, citing improved trade, investment and tourism relations.

The President said discussions on a bilateral trade deal between Kenya and the United States are at an advanced stage. He expressed hope that Kenya might be the first country in Africa to conclude such an agreement with the US.

“The US is an important market for us. It is among countries that we have a near balanced trade,” he said.

At the same time, President Ruto said the government has gazetted the transfer of more than 46,000 parcels of land and 8,062 housing units to county governments.

He urged counties to collaborate with the relevant agencies to facilitate the processing of legal ownership documents as required by law.

He also called for the fast tracking of 34,000 parcels of land and over 1,000 housing units that are pending transfer across 40 counties.

President Ruto praised the partnership between the National and County governments, which he said has strengthened devolution and taken services closer to the people.

He said the close working relations have turned counties into engines of local growth and champions of responsive, people-centred service delivery.

Across the country, he said, counties have improved healthcare under the Social Health Authority reforms, expanded agricultural value chains, advanced County Aggregation and Industrial Parks and adopted digital systems that modernise services.

“Since the inaugural summit, we have seen, clearly and powerfully, the transformation that happens when governments choose collaboration over confrontation, and partnership over competition,” he said.

For the first time in Kenya's history, the President said, the government has completed the delineation, unbundling and gazettement of devolved functions.

He explained that this would ensure clarity of responsibility and guarantee that resources follow functions.

“This long-awaited clarification of roles, pending for nearly 12 years, finally removes historical ambiguities, duplication and institutional tensions that slowed service delivery and generated conflict over responsibilities,” he said.

President Ruto expressed regret over delays in implementing past summit resolutions, and called on the relevant institutions to act with urgency to implement every resolution.

Deputy President Kindiki called for the operationalisation of devolution sector forums, noting that they will help address operational and routine issues so that the National and County Governments Coordinating Summit focuses on policy direction.

Governor Abdullahi said counties are committed to working with all national institutions to advance the constitutional vision of a prosperous, inclusive and devolved Kenya.