Thirdway Alliance party leader Ekuru Aukot has called for closer scrutiny of the Sh1.6 billion health cooperation deal signed between Kenya and the United States, arguing that the agreement demands clearer safeguards on public assets and health data.
His remarks come amid growing debate over the country’s engagements with foreign partners, particularly in sectors involving sensitive national information.
Aukot issued his concerns through a statement shared on X, where he suggested that the government may be placing national interests at risk.
He alleged that Kenyans could inadvertently become part of foreign-led medical research linked to the agreement.
In his post, Aukot stated that President William Ruto’s administration “will not stop at auctioning our public assets to aliens” and warned that Kenyans could end up as “samples in the USA medical/research labs.”
The Kenya–US framework, signed during President Ruto’s recent tour, outlines expanded collaboration in health systems, research, and digital health services.
According to government officials, the arrangement aims to strengthen national capacity in disease surveillance, medical technology, and healthcare delivery.
The administration has portrayed the partnership as a step toward modernizing public health services ahead of ongoing reforms under the Universal Health Coverage agenda.
Debate over foreign involvement in Kenya’s health sector is not new.
Previous administrations have worked with external partners on HIV programmes, vaccine initiatives, and public health campaigns, often sparking calls for transparency on data handling and the long-term implications of such partnerships.
Public Service Secretary Ouma Oluga has recently clarified that the health data generated through the partnership will remain under Kenyan jurisdiction.
He said the government is digitizing health records with safeguards that comply with national laws and data protection policies.
Oluga emphasized that privacy and regulatory compliance will guide all aspects of the framework’s implementation.
Aukot’s remarks come at a time when political actors across various parties are positioning themselves ahead of the next election cycle, where governance, accountability, and foreign policy are expected to feature prominently.
His critique adds to growing public conversations about how Kenya balances development partnerships with the need to protect national sovereignty.