Kenya and the United States are advancing a new phase of health cooperation anchored on stronger national systems, country ownership and sustainable health outcomes.
This was the focus of discussions between Cabinet Secretary for Health Hon. Aden Duale and the newly appointed United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Kenya Country Director, Dr Runa Gokhale, during an introductory courtesy call.
Hon. Duale acknowledged the more than four decades of partnership between Kenya and the U.S. CDC and its contribution to strengthening the country’s public health system. The collaboration has supported Kenya’s response to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria while building critical capacity in laboratory services, disease surveillance, epidemiology, data systems, emergency response and the health workforce.
The impact of the partnership is reflected in the progress made across the three diseases. New HIV infections have declined by 86 per cent since 2010, while AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 67 per cent. Tuberculosis incidence has reduced by more than 40 per cent since 2015, with approximately 91,000 people diagnosed and initiated on treatment in 2025. Malaria incidence also declined from 104 cases per 1,000 people in 2023 to 72 cases per 1,000 people in 2025.
The discussions focused on the transition to the Government-to-Government Health Cooperation Framework, which provides an opportunity to move from parallel programmes towards stronger national institutions and sustainable, country-led delivery.
The priority is to safeguard the gains achieved over the years while ensuring uninterrupted access to HIV treatment, tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment, malaria commodities and other essential public health services.
The partnership will also place greater emphasis on strengthening Kenya’s health security architecture and key institutions, including the Ministry of Health, county governments, the Kenya Medical Research Institute and the Kenya National Public Health Institute. This will ensure that long-standing investments translate into resilient health systems that Kenya can lead and sustain over the long term.
Present were Director for Family Health Dr Bashir Issak, Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council Chief Executive Officer Dr David Kariuki, and Head of the National AIDS and STI Control Programme Dr Andrew Mulwa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.
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