NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 10 – President William Ruto has pledged that neither foreign governments nor any entities will exploit Kenyans, asserting his commitment to safeguard the nation’s interests under the newly announced Kenya-US pact.
Speaking during the 12th National and County Governments Coordinating Summit public event, President Ruto emphasized that the agreement with the United States aims to strengthen trade, security, and development cooperation without compromising Kenya’s sovereignty or the welfare of its citizens.
“No government, and no entity, will take advantage of the people of Kenya so long as I am President,” Ruto stated, highlighting his administration’s focus on ensuring mutual benefits in international agreements.
The pact, part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to enhance economic growth, security collaboration, and technology transfer, aligns with Kenya’s strategic vision to attract investment while protecting domestic industries and citizens’ livelihoods.
President Ruto assured Kenyans that the government will maintain transparency and accountability in implementing all aspects of the partnership, while holding foreign partners to the highest standards of cooperation.
He said that the United States had agreed to support health sector with about $1.6 billion over the next five years, adding that the deal was negotiated by government experts and aligned with Kenyan law.
“There is no equivocation of whatever that the agreement we signed can undermine the interests of the people of Kenya, including matters to do with our health data. The Office of the Attorney General went through the agreement with a toothcomb to make sure that when it comes to matters data, the law that prevails,” President Ruto noted.
Ruto dismissed claims that the pact would place Kenya at a disadvantage, saying the government had secured terms that ensure Kenyan data remains protected under domestic legislation.
“And I also want to assure us that knowing the United States, not just as a friend of Kenya, but as a viciously democratic nation, they will not allow their officials to take advantage of us or any other country. They will not,” the President noted.
He emphasized that the United States was a solid partner with whom Kenya has maintained long-standing cooperation across several sectors.
“Many would want to ask what their interest in our country is. Every country has their own interests. Just for the record, you know, as I said, this is a strong relationship between our two governments forged over many years,” President Ruto said.
The President said the United States had opted to channel resources directly through government rather than NGOs, telling county leaders that the decision was made by Washington for efficiency and efficacy.
“So, if anybody is annoyed in between here, they should take their anger to another place. They should not bring it to us,” he said.
“You know, I know there are entities that have been benefiting from these resources, you know, and as a result, they are sponsoring all manner of stories around. If they have a problem with the current structure, they should go and talk to the government of the United States.”
Ruto also pointed to expanding cooperation beyond health, citing defense support, tourism growth, and ongoing negotiations on bilateral trade.
He said Kenya could become the first African country to conclude a standalone trade agreement with the United States.
“There is a clear, demonstrable, documented, strong relationship with the United States and Kenya. Whether it is our defense agreements and support that we get from them, whether it is the agreement that we have signed on health, whether it is the tourist numbers that come to our country, or the trade that is going on between us and the United States,” the President stated.
The government will implement a system to rapidly deploy essential drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic tools during national health emergencies by leveraging the regulatory approvals of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
This mechanism is a core component of the new Cooperation Framework between Kenya and the United States on Health.
The primary objective of the provision is to drastically reduce the time taken to introduce life-saving medical countermeasures during a disease outbreak.
This strategic alignment supports Kenya’s ambitious goal to meet the 7-1-7 public health metric a global benchmark requiring a country to detect an outbreak within 7 days, notify authorities within 1 day, and complete the initial response within 7 days.
Expedited Approval Mechanism
The Framework outlines that the U.S. FDA’s clearance for emergency use of a medical product will serve as the primary evidence needed for its deployment in Kenya.
“The Government of Kenya intends to allow the United States Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval or Emergency Use Authorization of medical countermeasures to be a sufficient basis to use the medical countermeasures to respond to an outbreak in the country in accordance with applicable legislation in Kenya,” the agreement read.
This means that instead of conducting a full, time-consuming scientific review, the Kenya Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) can rely on the FDA’s judgment and move quickly to complete the necessary administrative and legal steps for use, ensuring the public gains immediate access to vital tools.
Crucially, the agreement stresses that the use of these fast-tracked products remains subject to our applicable laws this ensures that the process must align with Kenyan public health laws and safety requirements, preserving the legal authority of local regulatory bodies.
“The U.S. Government, in coordination with the Government of Kenya, intends to establish a funding mechanism to surge additional personnel, supplies, equipment and other necessary materials… to respond to detected infectious disease threats… and implemented according to applicable laws and regulations of the Republic of Kenya,” the agreement read.
System Strengthening
This regulatory mechanism is part of a larger plan to enhance domestic health security capabilities. The Framework specifies significant institutional build-up, including the operationalization of the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI) and the establishment of 10 KNPHI Regional Hubs and 20 County Emergency Operation Centers.
By adopting this system, the Ministry of Health aims to ensure that infrastructure investments are matched by operational efficiency, allowing the country to transition from prolonged reliance on donor assistance to self-sustaining national capacity for disease prevention and rapid response.
This provision has immediate and critical implications for how Kenya sources vital supplies including vaccines during a major health crisis.
By recognizing the FDA’s emergency authorization as sufficient for use in Kenya, the framework streamlines the import and deployment of American-developed or U.S.-based pharmaceutical products.
