By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, December 12, 2025 - The government has moved to reassure Kenyans over the suspended Kenya–US health partnership, promising to release all remaining documents relating to the agreement after a High Court order paused parts of the deal earlier this week.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said on Friday that the government would comply with the conservatory orders issued on 10 December, but stressed that the ruling affected only the sections touching on data sharing—not the entire Sh208 billion cooperation framework.
The court intervention followed a petition questioning how Kenyan medical data might be handled under the agreement. Justice Lawrence Mugambi ordered the State to stop implementing the health framework “pending the hearing and determination of the petition,” particularly any provisions that could allow the transfer of personal health information.
Speaking through an official statement, CS Duale said the government respects the courts’ role in safeguarding citizens’ rights but remains confident that the agreement will withstand full legal scrutiny. He noted that several documents had not been available to the court when the interim orders were issued and would now be submitted for consideration.
“We fully recognise and respect the crucial role of the courts in interpreting the law,” Duale said. “The conservatory orders are specific to the sharing of data and do not suspend the broader partnership. Once the Court sees the complete documentation, it will appreciate the intent and spirit of this cooperation.”
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The Ministry emphasised that the health deal was designed as a government-to-government arrangement—not an international treaty—crafted through due process and aligned with Kenyan law. It insists that the framework protects Kenya’s sovereignty, data ownership and intellectual property.
Duale added that the agreement includes strict safeguards under the Data Protection Act, 2019, and the Digital Health Act, 2023, with clear limits preventing the sharing of personally identifiable information. Only aggregated, non-identifiable data may be used.
The government maintains that the partnership, signed in Washington on 4 December and witnessed by President William Ruto, will strengthen universal health coverage and channel resources into disease prevention, emergency preparedness and modern health infrastructure.
