Health data use raises concerns over citizen costs in Africa

Recent discussions surrounding Kenya’s health cooperation framework with the United States have highlighted concerns regarding data protection, public consultation, and national sovereignty. While these concerns are valid, they may overshadow a broader trend impacting multiple countries: the increasing exchange of health data for development funding.

Expanding U.S. Health Agreements in Africa

Kenya’s agreement, signed in 2025, was the first of its kind but is now part of a larger pattern. At least 13 other countries have signed memorandums of understanding with the United States as part of the ‘American First’ global health strategy. These agreements typically involve exchanging development funding for long-term access to health data.

Data as Strategic Currency

The practice of exchanging health data is not simply a technical decision; it represents a shift in development cooperation. This emerging transactional and asymmetric geopolitical order increasingly views health data as a strategic asset. The agreement with Kenya has been temporarily halted by a Kenyan court.