Kenya’s Court Halts US Health Deal

(MENAFN) Kenya’s High Court has temporarily blocked a major health collaboration agreement with the United States, following allegations that the arrangement could expose sensitive medical information of citizens to unauthorized access.

The five-year agreement, inked in Washington on December 4, is valued at over $1.6 billion and was promoted by both nations as a new framework for US health assistance.

The deal is designed to channel funds directly to government institutions while encouraging partners to increase domestic health spending.

However, the non-profit organization Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) challenged the agreement in court, cautioning that it might grant the US access to private medical records, including HIV statuses.

In a statement released on Wednesday, COFEK noted that a section of the pact lacks “clarity and should be expressly defined or expunged.”

The group argued that the deal leaves Kenyan citizens vulnerable to “lasting privacy violations, stigma, and potential misuse of their information.”

“Kenya should cooperate boldly but safeguard fiercely: partnership must not translate into surrender of sovereignty, consumer rights, or control of national health data,” the lobby group emphasized.

Late Wednesday, Judge Bahati Mwamuye issued an order suspending any element of the agreement that involves the transfer or sharing of personal, medical, epidemiological, or other sensitive data. The court will hold a hearing on February 12, 2026, to review the matter.

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