Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga has alleviated concerns over data sharing in the health partnership agreement between Kenya and the United States, stating that Kenya will only share aggregated data with the US government to track the implementation of the agreement in Washington D.C.
Oluga’s defence of the partnership comes shortly after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale held bilateral talks with the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F, shortly after. On Saturday, December 6, 2025, Kennedy Jr. was at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C.
Duale welcomed the deal, noting that it reconfirms the strong partnership between our countries and our shared commitment to attaining Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The discussions centred on four key priorities: a health workforce that meets its purpose, sustainable health financing, secure access to health products and technology, and a robust, digitised health system. Since the partnership was formed, there has been widespread public concern in Kenya about the privacy of personal data.
Oluga calms concerns.
To share this data, a request for the required information must be made. Second, a process needs to be in place for me to submit it to you. Approval from both the Digital Health Agency and the Data Controller is also required. According to Oluga, in a local radio interview on Monday, December 8, 2025, a request is necessary for every piece of data that is submitted.
The Kenya-USA health deal also delved into more extensive partnerships with the U.S industry, academia and government to advance technology transfer, regulatory harmonisation and innovation, particularly in expanding local production of vaccines, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics.
Ruto welcomes the health agreement
President William Ruto has termed his recent activities in Washington, D.C. as a decisive turning point in the long-standing relationship between Kenya and the United States.
Ruto has emphasized the reinforcement of a partnership in the health sector, pointing out that Kenya and the United States have agreed on new measures to enhance disease monitoring, extend primary healthcare, and hasten the adoption of cutting-edge medical technologies.
The President stated that these commitments have the potential to “save lives, uplift communities, and bring Kenya closer to achieving universal health coverage.” This marks a major milestone in bolstering Kenya’s public health infrastructure through a focus on technological advancements and capacity development.
