The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio lauded Kenya for its pivotal contribution to efforts aimed at stabilizing Haiti, asserting that the Caribbean nation’s situation would be considerably more precarious without Nairobi’s intervention.
Rubio delivered these remarks in Washington D.C. on Thursday, December 4, 2025, during a joint event with President William Ruto. At this collaborative forum, the two leaders also inaugurated the initial agreement under America’s updated global health strategy.
Secretary Rubio highlighted Kenya’s assumption of a substantial burden in Haiti for nearly two years, deeming its involvement crucial to averting a complete societal breakdown. He emphasized that Kenya’s troop deployment facilitated the progression to the mission’s subsequent stage for the United States and its allies, focusing on establishing a specialized anti-gang security force.
He reiterated Kenya’s exceptional and courageous involvement in stabilizing Haiti’s challenging predicament. Rubio stated that Kenya had borne an immense responsibility for nearly two years, adding that without their efforts, the current dire state of Haiti would be unfathomable. He conveyed profound appreciation, noting that their participation was instrumental in enabling the planned transition to a gang suppression force, a move that would have been unachievable otherwise.
He affirmed Washington’s commitment to facilitating this transition and backing Kenya during the formation of the new security contingent. Nevertheless, Rubio emphasized that Kenya should not be expected to bear this responsibility in isolation. He utilized the occasion to implore nations globally and regionally to provide personnel, equipment, and financial resources. Rubio also expressed disapproval of governments that merely issue pronouncements regarding Haiti’s suffering but offer scant tangible assistance. He suggested that substantial progress could be achieved if even a few nations contributed half of Kenya’s existing commitment. His specific plea was directed at countries within the Western Hemisphere, the Caribbean Basin, and South America, urging them to assume greater accountability for a crisis unfolding in their immediate vicinity.
Changes to Health Assistance Model
In addition to his comments on Haiti, Rubio introduced a significant overhaul in the methodology by which the United States provides international health aid. He noted that while Washington has invested vast sums in global health initiatives, a disproportionate amount has been managed by American and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which frequently operate parallel systems and incur considerable administrative overheads. Rubio declared that the U.S. would discontinue its reliance on NGOs for the conceptualization and execution of foreign health programs. The updated approach will instead involve direct collaboration with partner governments. He contended that channeling funds through third parties was inefficient, as it tended to undermine domestic institutions and diminish the practical effectiveness of U.S. assistance for patients.
Kenya was the inaugural signatory under this new framework. Rubio explained that Kenya was selected due to the enduring alliance between the two nations and its robust institutional capacity to adeptly implement the revised strategy. As per the agreement, the United States will allocate Ksh207.6 billion to Kenya’s health sector over the subsequent five years, with Kenya committing an additional Ksh110 billion from its own budget. Rubio articulated that this partnership seeks to bolster domestic health infrastructure, enabling nations to gradually diminish their reliance on external aid. He suggested that Kenya could, over time, serve as a model for other countries interested in adopting similar approaches. The accord, he added, is structured to cultivate independently functional systems rather than perpetuating reliance on foreign financial support.
President Ruto subsequently addressed the audience, providing historical context for Kenya’s extensive association with the United States. He highlighted how American assistance over the past quarter-century has been instrumental in Kenya’s efforts to combat diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis. He connected the new agreement to his administration’s broader initiatives to expand universal health coverage, upgrade hospital facilities, and fortify medical supply chains. Ruto mentioned that Kenya is already mobilizing Ksh389.4 billion in internal resources for health infrastructure, including community health promoters nationwide. He expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump and the U.S. Government for their dedication and guaranteed that Kenya would deploy the funds judiciously, proficiently, and transparently.
Regarding Haiti, Ruto affirmed Kenya’s sustained engagement and its commitment to supporting the transition to the forthcoming anti-gang security contingent. He reiterated Rubio’s appeal for increased regional accountability in addressing the crisis. Ruto pledged, “Kenya will continue its presence in Haiti, leveraging the expertise accumulated over the past nearly two years to benefit the Gang Suppression Force.” He further stated, “I promised we would not abandon Haiti, and I must emphasize that Kenya’s success there would have been unattainable without the unwavering support, camaraderie, and collaboration of the United States.” Additionally, Ruto indicated that Kenya would participate alongside U.S. officials at another upcoming event focused on stabilizing the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The combined event signified the inaugural agreement under the United States’ updated “America First Global Health Strategy,” with U.S. officials characterizing Kenya as the exemplary collaborator for its initiation.
