Unions back Kenya-US health deal, cite job security

The Health Union Caucus Sunday welcomed the recently signed $2.5 billion Kenya–U.S. Health Cooperation Framework.

The group hailed it as a landmark agreement that elevates workforce dignity and strengthens national health sovereignty.

The caucus, which brings together major health sector unions including KUCO, KNUMLO, KEHPHPU, KMPDU, KUNAD and KNUPT, said the deal marks a decisive shift from donor-led aid to a sustainable government-to-government partnership that puts Kenyan health workers and patients first.

While describing health workers as “the frontline defenders of our nation’s health,” the caucus said the framework represents “a historic turning point” for a sector long plagued by uncertainty.

It noted that for years, more than 28,000 healthcare workers involved in the fight against HIV, TB and malaria have existed in professional limbo, dependent on fluctuating external funding.

The group said the new agreement provides “a clear, time-bound roadmap to absorb 13,800 frontline workers onto the national public payroll by 2028,” a transition the unions say will end the era of “contractual insecurity” and retain experienced specialists in public service.

The caucus also welcomed the move to strengthen national sovereignty by funding Kenyan state institutions directly rather than through non-governmental organisations.

The group said the shift would eliminate funds lost through administrative processes and support more services where they are most needed.

The unions noted that by December 2026, medical commodity procurement is expected to transition to KEMSA, a move they said will “eliminate ‘stock-outs’ and ensure that life-saving medicines reach the grassroots without diversion or delay.”

On data protection, the caucus sought to reassure the public that the framework is grounded in “Kenya First” data protocols.

It said the Data Sharing Agreement explicitly forbids the transfer of Personally Identifiable Information, allowing only aggregate, de-identified data to be shared to monitor programme success.

The statement emphasised that “all health data remains the sole property of the Government of Kenya,” with no rights granted to the U.S. government beyond monitoring the efficacy of the $1.6 billion investment, and that any data exchange is anchored in the Data Protection Act (2019) and the Digital Health Act (2023).

While acknowledging that the framework is under judicial review, the caucus urged stakeholders to weigh the cost of delay, describing the agreement as “a lifeline for a health system transitioning toward Universal Health Coverage.”

It said the deal is “not just about funding,” but about a roadmap to self-reliance, as Kenya moves toward a system where it owns its data, employs its health workers and manages its own medical supplies for programmes traditionally run by NGOs.

The Health Union Caucus said it remains committed to monitoring the implementation of the framework to ensure it delivers “a stronger, more resilient, and more sovereign Kenyan healthcare system,” while warning that the funds must be ring-fenced and protected from misappropriation.

It also recommended that petitioners and the government consider an out-of-court settlement for the benefit of patients, that the Ministry of Health and the Public Service Commission provide a framework for absorbing 15,000 health workers not accommodated in the deal, and that a strong audit system be established to curb corruption and ensure the funds serve their intended purpose.

Two courts have stopped the implementation of the agreement.