- David Maraga asks President Ruto to openly share details of a recent Kenya–US cooperation deal.
- Warns that major government institutions risk being commercialised.
- Raises concerns about big projects like the Rironi–Mau Summit expansion and the SHA programme.
United Green Movement (UGM) presidential hopeful and former Chief Justice David Maraga has called on President William Ruto to make public the full contents of the cooperation pact Kenya recently signed with the United States.
Speaking at the Jumuia Conference Centre in Limuru, Maraga said Kenyans deserve to know what the agreement contains, warning that turning key public institutions into profit-driven entities could harm the country in the long run.
He also hinted that ongoing probes may expose other undisclosed deals allegedly being handled by the government.
While acknowledging that development is welcome, Maraga pointed out that questions continue to arise over how major projects are being rolled out, including the Rironi–Mau Summit Road upgrade and the SHA programme.
He said Kenyans are concerned about transparency and whether the processes behind these projects are fully transparent.
Maraga’s remarks come as Kenyans question the new health cooperation framework signed in Washington last Thursday; some members of the public fear the deal could expose citizens’ confidential medical data.
However, the Ministry of Health has dismissed those claims. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the five-year, Ksh. The 208 billion agreement protects the country’s full ownership of its health information and related intellectual property.
According to Duale, the pact only uses general, non-personal health information for national dashboards and reports, nothing that can identify a specific person.
Duale emphasised that the agreement includes strong privacy protections.
“Kenya shall not provide individual-level data or personal information to the U.S. Government,”
He said, noting that the clause was deliberately written to safeguard Kenyans.
He added that the deal follows all Kenyan laws, including the Constitution, the Health Act (2017), the Data Protection Act (2019), and the Digital Health Act (2023).
The ministry says the partnership will support the elimination of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, and guide the country toward a self-sustaining health system by 2030.
The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi has also reassured Kenyans that the data involved is secure, anonymous, and never tied to personal identities. The embassy clarified that the KSh 208 billion support is not a loan, but direct government-to-government assistance.
As part of the agreement, Kenya will increase its domestic health investment by KSh. 850 million over the next five years.
Kenya becomes the first African country to sign such a bilateral health cooperation arrangement with the U.S.
