The United States has signed a US$2.5 billion health aid agreement with Kenya, marking the first bilateral deal of its kind since President Donald Trump dismantled the traditional US foreign aid framework and shifted funding away from long-standing NGO-led channels.
The agreement, announced Thursday, represents a major reset in how Washington intends to deliver health assistance under the new administration. By opting for a government-to-government arrangement, the Trump team is signalling a preference for tighter control, fewer intermediaries, and direct partnerships with states deemed strategically important.
For Kenya, the deal injects substantial resources into its health sector at a time when public health financing remains under strain. It also positions Nairobi as a key partner in the new US aid architecture, potentially influencing how future American health funding across Africa will be structured.
