Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga has allayed data fears in the health partnership deal sealed between Kenya and and the United States of America, saying Kenya will only share aggregated data with the US government to monitor implementation of the deal in Washington D.C.

Oluga’s defence of the partnership comes shortly after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale held bilateral talks with the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

Duale welcomed the deal, adding that it reaffirms the strong partnership between our nations and our shared commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

The discussions focused on four priorities: a fit-for-purpose health workforce, sustainable health financing, secure access to health products and technologies and a resilient, digitised health system. Following the partnership, there has been public concern about data privacy involving Kenyans.

Oluga allays fears

”This data sharing, there must be a request for the information needed. Second, there must be a mechanism for how I give it to you. There must also be approval from the Digital Health Agency and the Data Controller. So for every data that is provided, there has to be a request,” Oluga said in a local radio interview on Monday, December 8, 2025.

The Kenya-USA health deal also explored deeper partnerships with the U.S industry, academia and government to advance technology transfer, regulatory harmonisation and innovation, especially in expanding local production of vaccines, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics.

Ruto hails health deal

Meanwhile, President William Ruto has described his recent engagements in Washington, D.C. as a defining milestone in the long-standing partnership between Kenya and the United States.

Ruto has highlighted a strengthened partnership in the health sector, noting that Kenya and the United States have agreed on new measures to improve disease surveillance, expand primary healthcare, and accelerate the adoption of advanced medical technologies.

According to the President, these commitments are poised to “save lives, uplift communities, and accelerate Kenya’s journey toward universal health coverage.” The focus on technology and capacity-building marks a significant step in fortifying Kenya’s public health systems.