A Kenyan court has suspended a health funding agreement the government signed with the United States (US) on December 4, worth more than $1.6 billion, until it hears a data privacy case filed by a consumer protection group.
The pact, signed in Washington, was the first of its kind under an overhaul of US foreign aid introduced during President Donald Trump’s administration.
Since then, other African nations including Rwanda and Uganda have signed similar agreements. Under these deals, countries receive US health funds but are also required to increase their own domestic health spending.
The Consumers Federation of Kenya petitioned the High Court to halt the agreement until concerns over the safety of citizens’ health data are addressed.
“Decision-making informed by Kenyan health data must be public, auditable and jointly supervised, with consumer representatives involved in data processing, monitoring and evaluation, and independent oversight,” the federation said in a statement.
High Court Judge Bahati Mwamuye issued an order pausing the agreement until the case is heard.
“A conservatory is hereby issued suspending or howsoever giving effect to the Health Co-operation Framework,” Mwamuye said in the order late on Wednesday.
President William Ruto has sought to reassure Kenyans that their data will be protected.
–Reuters–
