Duale Dismisses Fears of Data Breach in New Kenya-US Ksh 200B Health Deal

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has addressed concerns regarding Kenya's latest health agreement with the United States, following allegations of a potential data breach.

This follows anexplosive allegation by Adani whistleblower Nelson Amenya over the multi-billion-shilling health security agreement between the two countries.

Amenya had claimed that the deal would grant the U.S. government unrestricted,real-time access to Kenya’s national health databases, including sensitive patient information.

According to him, the alleged agreement would allow the US to view personal medical records such as HIV status, TB treatment history, and vaccination data.

Amenya further argued that a clause subjecting the agreement to US federal law would neutralise Kenyan legal protections, including the Data Protection Act, the Health Act, and the Digital Health Act.

However, CS Duale has strongly dismissed such claims, insisting that the country's health data remains secure and fully protected under the Kenyan laws.

In a statement on Thursday, December 4, Duale stated that in Kenya, health data is classified as a national strategic asset and cannot be accessed or shared without following legal procedures.

He clarified that any data-sharing arrangement, either within Kenya or with a foreign nation, must go through the Digital Health Authority (DHA) and the Data Protection Commissioner.

"Under the new U.S.-Kenya framework: All data sharing follows Kenyan laws, and only de-identified, aggregated data is shared," Duale noted.

"Approvals must go through the Digital Health Authority (DHA) and the Data Commissioner. Digital Health Act and the Data Protection Act fully apply," he added.

Duale's clarification comes hours after President WilliamRuto witnessed the signing of the agreement, which will see the U.S. government invest Ksh200 billion in Kenya’s health system over the next five years.

Under the new arrangement, Kenya and the U.S. will jointly manage investments meant to eliminate HIV, TB, malaria, strengthen outbreak response, and accelerate the transition to fully self-reliant national health systems by 2030.