Kenya Becomes the First African Nation to Secure Co-Funding for Healthcare from the U.S. Under Trump’s Administration

Kenya has become the first African country to form a direct health cooperation agreement with the United States under President Donald Trump. On December 4, 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Kenyan President William Ruto signed a groundbreaking five-year, $1.6 billion health pact in Washington, D.C. This agreement represents a significant shift from multilateral aid frameworks to direct bilateral partnerships.

Under this deal, the U.S. will invest over $1.6 billion in Kenya’s health system, focusing on diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and polio. In exchange, Kenya pledges to increase its health spending by $850 million during this period. The initiative aims to enhance Kenya’s self-reliance in managing its health sector, in line with the Trump administration’s “America First Global Health Strategy,” which seeks to reduce reliance on foreign aid.

This agreement marks a departure from the previous model of U.S. health funding through NGOs and the now-defunct U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). By channeling funds directly to the Kenyan government, the U.S. aims to improve accountability and resource efficiency. Secretary Rubio criticized past reliance on “NGO industrial complex,” advocating for more direct aid distribution.

President Ruto expressed confidence in the transparent utilization of funds, highlighting the agreement’s potential to bolster Kenya’s universal health coverage initiatives, modernize hospitals, and enhance the health workforce. This partnership is anticipated to improve disease surveillance and emergency preparedness.

The historic agreement has set a precedent, prompting Rwanda to sign a similar deal shortly after. The U.S. administration expects more African nations to follow suit, marking the beginning of a new era of direct health cooperation aimed at achieving sustainable health outcomes across the continent.