A Kenyan court has issued a temporary injunction blocking the implementation of a $2.5 billion health partnership with the United States, citing concerns about the protection of citizens’ personal medical information.
The ruling stems from petitions filed by consumer advocacy groups alongside Senator Okiya Omtatah, who contended that the agreement could place Kenyans’ sensitive health data under foreign influence. In its provisional order, the court directed government agencies to refrain from activating any component of the deal that involves sharing or transferring health-related data.
The pact—described by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a “landmark” initiative—is a key element of Washington’s new government-to-government aid model. Under the proposed funding structure, the US would provide $1.7 billion while Kenya would contribute $850 million, with Nairobi gradually assuming a larger share of responsibility. Reports indicate that comparable arrangements have been concluded with several other African countries.
Opponents of the plan, including the Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek), argue that the agreement risks eroding Kenya’s sovereign control over its healthcare sector, especially in critical areas such as pharmaceutical supply chains and digital systems like cloud-based data storage.
President William Ruto has attempted to allay public unease, asserting that the Attorney General vetted the deal to ensure all Kenyan data remains governed by domestic law. US officials have not yet issued a formal statement addressing the privacy issues raised.
