Blow to Ruto as U.S. Suspends Ksh 200 Billion Health Funding Deal

The U.S. government has put a $1.6 billion (Ksh 207 billion) health cooperation framework on hold, pending a final ruling from the High Court.

Speaking in Nyeri on Thursday, February 12, 2026, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Susan Burns clarified that the Trump administration cannot proceed with the deal’s implementation until the ongoing legal hurdles are cleared.

According to Burns, the U.S. government is actively engaging with the Kenyan government in order to have strategies for the smooth rollout of the project.

“It is up to Kenya to decide how they want this funding and how they want it implemented. These are discussions that we need to have with the government, but at the moment, the matter is for the court to decide,” Burns said.

She added that the government has a lot of work in its implementations, and therefore, they respect any decision that the courts will rule.

“We have a lot of work to do in the implementation, and we will continue to have this conversation with the government, of course, respecting any decision that comes from the court. There is a chance to relearn how to do things and scale them up,” Burns added.

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However, Burns has promised that the United States will keep funding the nation’s healthcare system through other channels, including the Centers for Disease Control and the Office of Foreign Assistance at the U.S. Embassy.

The agreement was suspended by Justice Bahati Mwamuye because of a clause pertaining to the transfer of personal and health data that had infuriated Kenyans.

“A conservatory order is hereby issued suspending, staying, and restraining the respondents, whether by themselves, their agents, or assigns, from implementing or giving effect to the Health Cooperation Framework executed between the Government of Kenya and the Government of the United States of America. This suspension applies insofar as the agreement provides for or facilitates the transfer, sharing, or dissemination of medical, epidemiological, or sensitive personal health data.” Justice Mwamuye ordered.

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Signing of the deal

On December 4, Kenya and the United States signed this historic Health Cooperation Framework and thus making Kenya the first country to enter a government-to-government agreement with the US.

The Ministry of Health, earlier in a statement, said that the document’s publication shows the government’s dedication to transparency and accountability in the administration of health partnerships.

“Kenya and the United States have signed a Cooperative Framework on Health, marking a new chapter in strengthening collaboration across priority health areas. In line with Article 35 on Access to Information, the full document is now publicly available for all citizens,” the statement read.

The ministry stated that funds will go directly to government institutions and removing third-party involvement to ensure they reach the intended institutions.

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