Abdulswamad Nassir Spearheads County Engagement in Kenya-US Health Cooperation Framework

By Feddy Madebe

MOMBASA, KENYA – Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has disclosed that Kenya will receive USD 1.6 billion in United States global health financing through a direct government-to-government channel, abandoning the traditional donor and NGO-driven model that has dominated international health assistance for decades.

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The announcement came following a consultative meeting between Governor Nassir and senior US officials to discuss implementation of the recently signed Kenya-United States Five-Year Health Cooperation Framework.

Governor Nassir met with Heidi O’Bra, Head of the US State Department of Foreign Assistance and Global Health, alongside Mary Mwiti, Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Governors, and members of the US delegation.

Government-to-Government Approach

The new financing model represents a major departure from conventional international health aid delivery. Under the framework, US health assistance will be channeled directly through Kenyan government institutions rather than through non-governmental organizations and traditional donor mechanisms.

To complement the American contribution, Kenya has committed to mobilizing approximately USD 850 million in domestic resources over the five-year implementation period, bringing total health investment under the framework to USD 2.45 billion.

Counties at the Forefront

Speaking on behalf of the Council of Governors, Governor Nassir emphasized the importance of clarifying how county governments will participate in the framework’s execution. With Kenya’s health services devolved to 47 counties, effective county-level engagement is crucial to achieving Universal Health Coverage targets.

“On behalf of the Council of Governors, I underscored the need to further unpack the Framework to clarify how County Governments will be engaged and supported to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage,” Governor Nassir said.

Three-Point Implementation Plan

The consultative meeting yielded three critical agreements that will shape the framework’s rollout.

First, both governments committed to guaranteeing continuity of health service delivery beyond the initial five-year framework period, ensuring that programs established under the partnership remain sustainable in the long term.

Second, county governments will be empowered to identify strategic health interventions to be supported under the new financing model, enabling locally-tailored solutions to regional health challenges.

Third, the Council of Governors and the Ministry of Health will convene a post-framework execution meeting in January 2026 to develop a detailed implementation matrix that will guide program deployment across Kenya’s counties.

Historic Milestone

Governor Nassir characterized the partnership as “a pivotal moment in Kenya’s journey toward stronger, more sustainable, and locally-led health systems.”

The direct government-to-government financing model is expected to strengthen Kenya’s institutional capacity in health management, enhance accountability in resource utilization, and ensure closer alignment between international assistance and national health priorities.

The Kenya-United States Five-Year Health Cooperation Framework represents one of the most significant health partnerships between the two nations and reflects growing international confidence in Kenya’s capacity to manage substantial health investments through domestic government systems.