Kenya’s health system is under severe strain following a sweeping U.S. aid freeze, which has suspended funding for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, immunisations, and digital health infrastructure once supported by USAID and PEPFAR programs.
The repercussions have been sudden and painful: thousands of healthcare workers have been retrenched across counties like Kiambu, while HIV clinics have closed, and supplies of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and TB testing kits have dwindled.
Critical diagnostic tools remain idle, and treatment schedules have been disrupted, leaving many Kenyan patients without access to essential care.
HIV prevalence clinics supported by U.S. grants, including mission hospitals like PCEA Chogoria, suddenly lost funding, placing over 3,000 patients and more than 40 staff at risk.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s immunisation program faces a Sh5-billion budget gap after U.S. cuts to Gavi support leaving routine vaccines for diseases like polio and measles under threat.
In response, Cabinet Secretary for Health Dr. Deborah Barasa Mlongo announced plans to integrate HIV and TB services into mainstream county healthcare, a move intended to streamline previously siloed programs and promote sustainability.
Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai called for accelerated domestic revenue mobilisation, public–private partnerships, and innovation in health financing to maintain continuity of care.
Stakeholders including Amref Health Africa and other experts stressed the critical need to pivot from donor, dependent models to prevention focused investments especially in clean water, sanitation, and immunisation to protect health outcomes amidst financial uncertainty
