Lawyer Miguna Miguna has raised concerns over the recently signed Kenya-US health framework, urging citizens to scrutinize the agreement and its implications for personal data privacy.
The agreement was signed during President William Ruto’s visit to the United States and establishes a framework for cooperation in health research, public health preparedness, and disease control.
In a statement on X, Miguna described the deal as “neocolonial,” asserting that it allows foreign access to Kenyans’ private health records while Kenya reportedly has no access to US citizens’ personal health information.
“All Kenyans need to know to reject the neocolonial agreement tyrant William Ruto signed with the DonaldTrump over the ILLEGAL harvest of PRIVATE PERSONAL health records of Kenyans by the Imperialists,” Miguna posted, highlighting concerns over the lack of reciprocal access.
Responding to the critics recently, President Ruto emphasized that Kenya’s health records will remain secure.
“I cannot allow our citizens’ private health information to be shared with anyone,” the President said, assuring that the government prioritizes safeguarding sensitive data.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale clarified that the agreement only involves sharing aggregate and de-identified data.
“This framework does not breach any Kenyan laws and will not compromise individual privacy,” CS Duale stated, noting that the arrangement aims to enhance collaboration without exposing personal information.
The deal arrives as Kenya increasingly relies on digital health systems, including electronic medical records, to improve healthcare delivery.
While international partnerships are common in advancing medical research and disease control, transparency and legal safeguards are key to maintaining public trust.
The Kenya-US health framework marks a continuation of bilateral cooperation in the health sector, but Miguna’s warnings underscore ongoing debates around data privacy and sovereignty.
Government officials have affirmed that privacy protections are embedded within the agreement, and no personal health data will be shared without adherence to Kenyan law.