Stephen Musungu
The High Court has dealt a major blow to the Kenyan government after freezing the implementation of a Sh348 billion health cooperation deal between Kenya and the United States. The agreement, signed by President William Ruto during a visit to Washington, was meant to strengthen collaboration in public health, disease control and health systems. However, the court ruled that no part of the deal should proceed until a petition challenging its legality is fully heard and determined.
The case was filed by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, who argued that the agreement was signed without proper public participation, parliamentary approval and adequate safeguards on data protection. In its ruling, the court barred the Ministry of Health and the Attorney General from sharing any health-related data with the US under the deal, citing concerns over constitutional violations and citizens’ privacy rights.
The decision has sparked debate among political leaders, legal experts and civil society groups, with supporters hailing it as a win for constitutionalism and accountability. Others warn that the freeze could delay critical health programmes and international cooperation efforts. As the legal battle continues, the future of the multi-billion-shilling deal remains uncertain, with the government expected to defend the agreement when the case comes up for full hearing.
Wamuzi News Ke
