Kenya has reaffirmed its long-standing health partnership with the United States, with a fresh focus on sustainability and reduced reliance on donor funding.

On the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, who led the Ministry of Health delegation, held a bilateral meeting with Jeffrey Graham, the Acting Global AIDS Coordinator.

The talks highlighted nearly two decades of cooperation through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI). These programmes have provided life-saving HIV treatment to more than 1.4 million Kenyans, significantly lowering infection rates and related deaths.

Taking to his X account, on Thursday, September 25, 2025, Duale stressed the need to protect these achievements while preparing for the next stage under the America First Global Health Strategy. This new approach emphasises sustainability, stronger local ownership, and reduced donor dependency.

“I underscored the need to safeguard these gains while embracing the next phase under the America First Global Health Strategy, with a focus on sustainability, country ownership and reduced donor dependency,” he wrote.

“Key priorities include continuity of care, predictable funding, transparency, local manufacturing, technology transfer and establishing a Kenya–US Technical Coordination Mechanism.”

The Principal Secretary for Medical Services at Kenya’s Ministry of Health, Dr Ouma Oluga, had raised concern over the rise in new HIV infections in the country.

He also outlined Kenya’s domestic reforms aimed at strengthening the health system. These include restructuring the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), investing in digital health solutions under the government’s Digital Superhighway initiative, boosting disease surveillance, and mobilising more local resources to support health programmes.

Ruto slams global inequality

At the same UNGA, President William Ruto delivered strong criticism of global institutions, saying Africa continues to be excluded from key decision-making platforms.

He argued that while Africa contributes the most troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions and bears the heaviest costs of instability, it remains the only continent without permanent representation on the UN Security Council. Ruto demanded at least two permanent seats with full rights and two additional non-permanent seats for Africa.

The President also faulted the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank for favouring wealthy nations at the expense of poor and developing states.

He noted that during the IMF’s recent allocation of Special Drawing Rights, 64 per cent went to countries with little need for liquidity, while poorer states received only 2.4 per cent. According to him, this imbalance punishes vulnerable economies with debt and high borrowing costs while rewarding rich nations with easier terms.