Kenya to share only aggregate health data with U.S. under Sh323bn deal
National
By
Mercy Kahenda
| Dec 12, 2025
The Kenyan Government will share only aggregate health data with the U.S. under the newly signed Sh323 billion health cooperation framework.
According to the agreement, all shared data must comply with the Data Protection Act (2019), the Digital Health Act (2023), and other relevant regulations.
This ensures that Kenya’s health information remains secure and is used strictly for implementing the cooperation framework.
Under the deal, the U.S. Government will invest $175 million (Sh22.6 billion) to support data systems over the seven-year implementation period. Kenya, on its part, will continue strengthening its digital superhighway.
The agreement obligates both governments to jointly develop a named list of covered data systems, the type of data to be shared, authorised users, access levels, and reports allowed under the framework.
Kenya will provide relevant data drawn from government-managed health programs for seven years.
“The Government of Kenya shall provide data derived from health programs under covered data systems in the form of aggregate-level data from aggregate systems, dashboards, and reporting tools,” reads the data-sharing preamble.
Appearing before Spice FM on Tuesday morning, PS Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga maintained that the data shared with the U.S. is not patient based, and will not identify individuals.
“This is aggregate data. It is de-identified data, that is going to be shared,” said Oluga.
The data system will be funded for seven years.
Oluga explained that reporting system for both Kenya and U.S. requires two years for audit and accountability.
Further, he noted that the data shared is meant for implementation of cooperation, digitalisation, implementing comprehensive integrated health information system.
“We have a data pipeline for the entire country on hospitals and data plugged into the pipeline, and a registry.
The U.S. doesn’t have access to the data. This is why we signed data sharing agreement. You know you do not sign what you have access to. If they had access to it, why sign,” said the PS.
The PS explained that earlier this year, and after stop work order, the Kenyan Government consolidated its data system including Chanjo K, Damu, Tibu for Tuberclosis (TB), malaria, Kenya Electronic Medical Records (EMR), data that has been put together, currently owned and managed by the state.
“Previously, Kenya hadn't integrated health data system,” said Oluga.
Oluga revealed before signing of the agreement, the Kenyan Government consulted the Data Commissioner who okayed, and gave advisory on the need to protect Kenyan data.
The aggregated data shared to the U.S. according to Oluga is for implementation of respective health programs supported by America, and also for accountability of taxpayers in the U.S., and the Congress on progress and improved Kenyan health system.
“This is aggregate data from an aggregate system. We shall not go to hospital saying number of patients that came and benefited, but rather system shall put together as aggregate data. Even if you know the number of those who benefited it shall not indicate such, it will not be individual data, but aggregate data,” maintained the PS.
The data sharing agreement, he said has been made public, and that Kenyans can access to understand more on its actualisation.
The U.S. however will be expected to make a request whenever they need data, and state the purpose of use.
“Within data sharing framework, there has to be a request, there has to be approval at the Digital Health Agency. And there is another approval by data Commissioner, where it should be used for the purpose requested,” said the PS.
Should the U.S. use the data for a purpose not explained in the request, it will have breached the agreement.
Oluga noted that the government shall conduct oversight on shared data, and entire data system for security and sovereignty reasons.
The cooperation framework commits both countries to accelerate Kenya’s ongoing digital health transformation in support of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a flagship element of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Kenya according to the document is already implementing a comprehensive integrated health information management system (IHIMS) as outlined in the Digital Health Act (2023).
The Hospital Management Information System (HMIS), which covers clinical management, laboratory services, pharmacy, and billing, is a core part of this ecosystem.
So far, the government has deployed TaifaCare HMIS in 1,500 public health facilities, with plans to scale up other digital platforms, including the National Public Health Intelligence Information System (NPHIIS), outbreak surveillance modules, and ports-of-entry surveillance tools.
The ongoing rollout of the electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS), integrated with the health information exchange, allows real-time monitoring of community-level health data and referrals to facilities.
Digital financing under the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the human resource information system have also been integrated.
By 2026, the U.S. Government intends to support enhancements in Kenya’s TaifaCare HMIS, including laboratory and pharmacy integration, and to onboard standalone systems such as the National Logistics Management Information System (NLMIS) and surveillance platforms.
“Over the course of this framework, the U.S. Government plans to fund Kenya’s Taifa Care HMIS enhancements and maintenance, including Kenya Electronic Medical Records systems, and to develop one comprehensive laboratory information management system,” the agreement reads in part.
It further lists support for digitising emergency operations, surveillance, outbreak response, and inventory management systems, including KEMSA’s Integrated Logistics Management Information System and related global standards.
The cooperation framework covers six pillars namely surveillance and outbreak response, laboratory systems, commodities and supply chain, data systems, health workforce and strategic technical interventions.
Under surveillance, the U.S. will fund the annual training of 250 Kenyan staff in detection, notification, response, and field epidemiology.
Kenya will also allow U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval or emergency use authorisation for medical countermeasures during disease outbreaks.
The U.S. will provide $1.104 billion (Sh142.7 billion) over five years to support Kenya’s commodity needs, including HIV treatment, rapid diagnostic tests, TB preventive therapy, malaria tests and treatment, insecticide-treated nets, and select maternal and child health commodities.
The full framework amounts to $2.5 billion (Sh323.4 billion) over five years, with Kenya required to co-finance $850 million (Sh110 billion).
Dr Oluga said the deal is the biggest health cooperation agreement Kenya has ever secured from the U.S. Government.
With the donor support is declining globally, he said the framework ensures continuity and reduces the risk of abrupt disruptions such as the stop-work order issued under the previous U.S. administration, which once halted USAID operations in Kenya.
“Where we are coming from is dwindling donor support. What we have done with the U.S. is to avoid a situation where support stops abruptly. Instead, we have agreed on a five-year framework," said the PS.
He stressed that the funding is not because Kenya is “too needy,” but because the country has priorities that require structured, sustainable support.
Co-financing has been applauded by experts noting that such makes the country responsible in running the health system, unlike what was witnessed in February this year when President Donald Trump gave stop work order, stopping operation of USAID that greatly supported Kenyan’s health system.