Kenya locked down a five-year healthcare deal with the US worth $2.5 billion, marking the first major health partnership since Trump restructured foreign aid programs. The agreement puts $1.7 billion from America and $850 million from Kenya toward fighting HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and maternal health issues, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling President William Ruto a solid ally during the signing ceremony.
The pact sparked controversy over data privacy concerns, as citizens worry the US might access sensitive patient records like HIV status and vaccination histories. Health Minister Aden Duale pushed back against the worries, saying only anonymized aggregate data gets shared and that local laws protect health information as a strategic national asset.
Other African nations are reportedly queuing up to sign similar agreements before year-end, fitting into the administration's strategy of channeling aid directly through governments instead of NGOs and charities.
The pact sparked controversy over data privacy concerns, as citizens worry the US might access sensitive patient records like HIV status and vaccination histories. Health Minister Aden Duale pushed back against the worries, saying only anonymized aggregate data gets shared and that local laws protect health information as a strategic national asset.
Other African nations are reportedly queuing up to sign similar agreements before year-end, fitting into the administration's strategy of channeling aid directly through governments instead of NGOs and charities.
