US to cut Kenya health aid by 32.8 billion shillings
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Kenyans
Annual US health funding for Kenya is due to fall from 53.6 billion shillings in 2026 to 20.8 billion in 2030, a reduction of 32.8 billion. The cut will affect HIV, tuberculosis and malaria programmes, while Nairobi gradually increases its contribution, according to US chargé d’affaires Susan Burns, cited by Kenyans.co.ke.
The United States will reduce its annual health funding for Kenya from 53.6 billion shillings, or $414 million, in 2026 to 20.8 billion shillings, or $161 million, in 2030. The 32.8 billion-shilling reduction is part of a bilateral agreement providing for the gradual transfer of responsibility for health programmes to the Kenyan government, reports Kenyans.co.ke.
The announcement was made in Nairobi on 22 October by Susan Burns, the US chargé d’affaires in Kenya, during the Trust Summit. The programmes concerned include HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, polio, maternal and child health, disease surveillance and epidemic preparedness.
The five-year framework provides for 207 billion shillings, or $1.6 billion, in US resources and 110 billion shillings, or $850 million, from Kenya. Payments will be linked to performance targets, while Nairobi will have to increase domestic spending and gradually integrate the programmes into its health system, notably through the services of the Social Health Authority, according to Susan Burns.
The reduction follows the reorganisation of US foreign aid launched by Donald Trump’s administration. The suspension of this aid for review, decided in January 2025, had already disrupted health programmes in Kenya and raised concerns about the continuity of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria treatment, reports Kenyans.co.ke.
