Kenya’s Ministry of Health has announced plans to integrate its health programmes as part of emergency measures to support Kenyans who previously relied on USAID-funded treatment.
Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa said the focus will be on HIV and TB programmes, which were previously run as standalone initiatives funded by international organisations, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
For decades, the US government, through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and USAID, has supported Kenya’s health sector by funding medical research and treatment for diseases such as Tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, and malaria. According to the Ministry of Health, these efforts have reached 3.7 million Kenyans with HIV treatment over the last 40 years.
Barasa reassured Kenyans that these programmes would continue despite changes in US policy.
“Despite shifting global health priorities, the Ministry of Health remains committed to ensuring uninterrupted delivery of essential services, including HIV and TB care,” a statement from the Ministry read in part on Wednesday, February 5.
She further emphasized that Kenya has the necessary leadership and policy framework to strengthen its health systems and adapt to emerging challenges without panic.
As part of this strategy, the government is advancing efforts to integrate HIV and TB management into routine healthcare services, shifting away from the previous model of treating them as separate programmes. Barasa acknowledged that this transition could pose challenges but assured Kenyans that the government would engage all stakeholders to ensure a smooth process.
“Counties like Murang’a have already made significant progress, demonstrating the feasibility of this approach. However, successful integration requires alignment at all levels—from policymakers to frontline health workers,” the statement added.
Kenya is among the countries hardest hit by the pausing of USAID health programmes. Data from the US Embassy in Nairobi shows that Kenya previously received an average of Ksh64 billion annually for health programmes through USAID and other US government agencies.
“For 45 years, the United States has been helping keep Kenyans healthy—from malaria, HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, and other disease threats, with $500 million in health funding each year through USAID, PEPFAR, CDC, DOD, HHS, and FDA, among other government agencies,” a statement from the US Embassy read.
Addressing the press at Afya House, CS Barasa said the government would rely on its new health system, Taifa Care, under the Social Health Authority (SHA), to fill the gaps left by USAID’s withdrawal. She added that the government would seek funding from the exchequer to sustain critical programmes such as medical research while actively looking for new donors.
“At this juncture, I believe it is critical for us to think of sustainable solutions and domestic health financing. Part of this is through Taifa Care under the Social Health Authority, where funds from Social Health Insurance will help address concerns related to HIV, TB, malaria, and other health support previously provided by the US government,” Barasa stated.
While Kenya has explored treatment integration before, the initiative has gained fresh urgency following the US government’s decision to suspend foreign aid for three months.
Since last year, the government has been working on merging HIV and TB treatment into primary healthcare. In July 2024, the Ministry of Health formed a team to develop strategies for integrating HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support within hospitals.
Meanwhile, thousands of employees working on US-funded health projects in Kenya now face uncertainty, with many at risk of unpaid leave or job losses due to the funding freeze. Up to 35,000 Kenyan workers associated with the PEPFAR programme are affected by the directive.
An assessment by the Andelson Office of Public Policy found that the affected workforce includes 1,952 doctors and clinical officers, 1,234 nurses and midwives, 578 laboratory professionals, over 340 pharmacists, and more than 24,577 community health workers.
The Andelson Office, a policy division of amfAR—The Foundation for AIDS Research—advocates for global policy reforms related to HIV/AIDS research, prevention, and treatment.
