President William Ruto has urged non-governmental organisations (NGOs) critical of the new United States health funding framework to direct their concerns to Washington, instead of blaming the government.
Ruto insisted that Kenya is simply the recipient of the funds following a decision by the US government to channel health resources directly to national authorities rather than through NGOs.
Speaking Wednesday when he chaired the 12th National and County governments coordinating summit at State House, Ruto explained that the decision did not come Kenya but US.
“It is not our decision; it is theirs. So if anybody is annoyed, they should take their anger to another place. They should not bring it to us,” the President said.
He acknowledged that some entities had previously benefited from US health funds and are now “sponsoring all manner of stories” regarding the shift.
According to Ruto, they are the ones who failed hence the decision by the US to channel funds directly to governments.
“If they have a problem with the current structure, they should talk to the US government, because they decided, for efficiency and efficacy, that these resources should come directly to government,” Ruto added.
The President also reassured county governments that the funds would still reach their jurisdictions. “Those resources will find their way to our counties,” he said.
This, as he clarified that the facility is not a loan, dismissing concerns over new debt obligations.
Ruto also hailed Kenya’s capacity to manage such agreements, emphasising the country’s skilled human capital.
“We did not become the first country to sign a health agreement with the United States by default, we became the first by design. Our professionals at the Ministry of Health and the Attorney General’s Office are as good, if not better, than anywhere in the world,” he stated.
He underscored the government’s commitment to the interests of Kenyans, asserting that the country possesses the expertise to manage international agreements without external consultants.
“We don’t need consultants because we have a human capital that has the capacity to do this. We should believe in ourselves more,” Ruto said.
The President also affirmed the strong relationship between Kenya and the US expressing pride in the collaborative efforts that have enabled the country to lead in securing international health agreements.
Kenya is set to receive a total of Sh208 billion over the next five years in the new deal signed last week during Ruto’s visit to the US.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio who spoke during the event said the new Government-to-Government (G2G) funding approach focusing on sustainability and accountability replaces fragmented donor-led arrangements.
“We are not going to spend billions of dollars funding the NGO industrial complex while close and important partners like Kenya either have no role to play or have very little influence over how healthcare money is being spent,” he said.
The agreed schedule is as follows: Sh10 billion in FY 2026/27, Sh20 billion in FY 2027/28, Sh35 billion in FY 2028/29, and Sh50 billion in FY 2029/30.
Kenya will be expected to gradually take over US Government-funded Health Commodities and Human Resources for health by 2031, totalling 141 Million USD.
The framework will guide bilateral collaboration to eliminate HIV, TB, Malaria and emerging infectious diseases.
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