The Government of Kenya has made public the documents outlining its new health collaboration with the United States, following the signing of a seven-year Cooperative Framework on Health and a Data Sharing Agreement on December 4, 2025.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale disclosed the agreements, emphasizing transparency and adherence to Article 35 of the Constitution on access to information.
The release provides citizens access to the full terms of the pact, which covers the sharing of health-related data between the two countries.
According to CS Duale, the publication aims to enhance accountability and ensure that Kenyans are fully informed about agreements affecting national policy and personal data.
The move, however, has drawn criticism from legal experts who argue that such agreements should involve broader public consultation.
Lawyer Willis Otieno contended that “a seven-year agreement touching the privacy, security, and dignity of every Kenyan cannot be the private project of bureaucrats. It must carry the people’s mandate, earned openly and debated publicly.”
He stressed that national sovereignty requires consent through law and active participation from citizens.
Kenya’s engagement with international partners on health matters is not new. Past collaborations with global agencies have focused on pandemic preparedness, medical research, and information sharing to improve public health outcomes.
This latest agreement is part of a broader effort to integrate Kenya into international health networks while leveraging US technical and data expertise.
The CS assured that all procedures adhered to existing legal frameworks, highlighting that public access to these documents reflects Kenya’s commitment to democratic principles and informed citizenry.
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