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Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has clarified that Kenya will not share citizens’ personal medical records with the United States under the newly signed Kenya–US Health Cooperation Framework. Speaking on Sunday, Duale emphasized that the agreement only allows for the exchange of aggregated health data, and no personal identifiers, such as individual medical files, will be accessible to the US government.
The deal, which is set to run for seven years, has caused public concern about the type of information that will be shared. To address these worries, the government assured Kenyans that the framework fully respects constitutional protections on privacy, the Health Act of 2017, and the Data Protection Act of 2019. Duale described claims that the US would gain broad access to all Kenyan health data as misleading. He insisted that Kenya will retain full control over its health information, including decisions about what data is collected, how it is stored, and who can access it.
One source of confusion was a clause in the framework that mentioned the two governments would negotiate a separate data-sharing agreement. Duale clarified that any shared data will only include high-level information such as totals, trends, performance indicators, and other system-level metrics. Personal details like ID numbers, addresses, and individual medical histories will not be shared.
The framework also includes a mechanism to audit performance at health facilities. Through this process, the US may receive information to verify outcomes in up to 5% of randomly selected or mutually agreed-upon clinics, laboratories, or programs. This ensures accountability and transparency while maintaining the privacy of individual patients.
The partnership is expected to significantly boost Kenya’s health sector. Over the next five years, the US government plans to contribute Ksh208 billion, with an additional two years designated for reporting, accountability checks, and periodic reviews. This funding aims to support Kenya’s ongoing efforts to improve healthcare delivery, strengthen health systems, and monitor overall performance in clinics and hospitals nationwide.
Duale stressed that the framework is designed to benefit Kenyans while keeping sensitive information secure. By sharing only aggregated data, the agreement allows Kenya to measure progress and receive support without compromising personal privacy. Officials say the partnership will help track public health trends, evaluate programs, and plan interventions more effectively, all while ensuring that individual patient records remain confidential.
With this clarification, the government hopes to calm public fears and reassure citizens that their personal health information will remain protected. The Kenya–US Health Cooperation Framework represents a major investment in Kenya’s health sector, combining financial support with accountability measures, while carefully respecting privacy laws and data protection standards.