Kenya is preparing to move critical health data currently hosted in the United States following President Donald Trump’s cuts to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding. The Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the planned shift during remarks at the World Health Assembly in Geneva on May 25.
The shift would see a range of digital health systems, currently hosted on US-based infrastructure, moved to local servers. These platforms include Kenya Health Information System (KHIS2), Kenya Master Health Facility List (KMFL), Afya KE, KenyaEMR, Chanjo KE, Damu KE, and Kemsa I-LMIS, all developed and maintained with USAID support. They are central to how Kenya tracks diseases, manages patient treatment, produces vaccines, and keeps rural health clinics running.
Kenya’s primary healthcare system would struggle to function without these platforms. Years of underfunding and systemic corruption have left the country heavily reliant on donor support, particularly from USAID. Cuts to aid under President Trump have exposed millions of Kenyans to gaps in essential health services, from HIV treatment to routine vaccinations.
“The recent challenges have underscored the vulnerabilities in our health data infrastructure,” Duale said. “It’s imperative that we invest in secure, locally managed data systems to ensure continuity and resilience in our healthcare delivery.”
Since March, Kenya’s health officials have reported losing access to data following USAID funding cuts and a subsequent shutdown ordered by the Trump administration.
USAID had committed $2.5 billion to Kenya in its 2020–2025 strategic plan, averaging $471 million in funding each year. An estimated 80% of this budget was earmarked for healthcare initiatives, covering areas such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, maternal and child health, and vaccination programs.
In May, the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) also reported that Kenya could not access data from the Kenya Health Information System, a crucial tool for disease surveillance and health planning.
Kenyan health officials have also warned that USAID cuts have exposed gaps in maintenance and technology, raising concerns about the country’s capacity to monitor public health and respond to outbreaks effectively.
“With donor funds curtailed, these platforms now suffer from maintenance gaps and technology shortages, severely hindering Kenya’s ability to monitor public health trends and respond promptly to emerging crises,” the Ministry said in April.
With Kenya facing budget constraints, it remains unclear how quickly local systems will be rolled out to handle the transition. In February, the Ministry said USAID funding cuts would cause $ 403.8 million (KES 52 billion) in the country’s health budget.
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