The US government has firmly rejected allegations of reduced funding for health programs in Kenya, emphasizing that its support remains robust and consistent.
Acting US Ambassador Susan Burns highlighted that Washington continues to allocate approximately Sh33.9 billion annually for health assistance to Kenya, underscoring the nation’s status as a key global partner in health security collaboration.
During the inaugural Kenya Health Security Convention, which concluded on Friday, Burns noted that the enduring partnership between the two countries has significantly enhanced Kenya’s surveillance and laboratory capabilities, facilitating quicker detection and response to disease outbreaks.
Burns stated, “The Kenya program in the global health security arena is among the strongest we have worldwide.”
These comments come amid growing concerns regarding a potential reduction in US health funding. However, Burns clarified that no cuts have occurred, while recognizing a strategic shift towards gradually decreasing external support as Kenya ramps up its own health financing.
She articulated that this strategy is evident in the $1.6 billion (Sh208 billion) US-Kenya health agreement signed on December 4, which she characterized as a framework for collaboration rather than a binding financial commitment.
“I want to emphasize that while we are pursuing this strategy, our ongoing health assistance has remained steady,” she asserted.
Burns detailed that the annual health assistance amounts to approximately $290 million (Sh33.9 billion), a figure that reflects the support consistently provided while negotiations for the health agreement progress.
The US collaborates directly with 13 counties through grant funding administered via the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including Nairobi, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Nyeri, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Siaya, Migori, Makueni, Kitui, Machakos, and Kisii.
Burns pointed out that US-supported initiatives have significantly advanced Kenya’s health outcomes, including a remarkable 50 percent reduction in the malaria burden over the past decade, especially between 2010 and 2020.
The country has also seen a decline in outpatient cases related to malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV.
Currently, 1.3 million Kenyans living with HIV access lifesaving treatment through collaborative programs, with 150,000 children born HIV-free due to sustained interventions.
Burns emphasized that the US remains committed to Kenya’s health sector, focusing on fostering a more integrated and self-sustaining health system.
“We aim to construct a system. Initially, our response to HIV was an emergency measure, leading us to establish a health system for rapid medicine distribution,” she explained.
“As needs evolved, we developed parallel structures that now require integration into Kenya’s health framework.”
She underscored the importance of this integration to prevent program duplication and ensure services like HIV care are fully incorporated into routine health delivery.
Burns noted that the resilience of Kenya’s health systems has been evident during recent disease alerts, including mpox and Marburg, where response times improved significantly.
“During the recent mpox and Marburg alerts, detection was swifter, coordination was stronger, and responses were immediate,” she reported.
This progress is supported by laboratory networks, trained field epidemiologists, surveillance systems, and cross-border coordination mechanisms that facilitate early outbreak detection and containment.
Kenya now boasts 26 emergency operations centers across 25 counties, a development Burns attributes to collaborative investments between the two nations.
The US has also played a pivotal role in establishing the Kenya National Public Health Institute and training programs for field epidemiologists.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention co-sponsored the inaugural Kenya Health Security Convention, organized by the Kenya National Public Health Institute.
This convention convened policymakers, scientists, public health experts, security professionals, and industry stakeholders to explore strategies for strengthening health systems and enhancing pandemic preparedness and response.
Burns reaffirmed the partnership’s commitment to building a resilient health system capable of effectively addressing emerging threats while supporting Kenya’s long-term goal of achieving greater health independence.
