An American of Kenyan descent – who’s backed by some African American civil rights activists – has urged Kenya and other African countries to scrutinize the United States’ first Global Health Strategy, arguing that the policy could have long-term implications for the continent’s health systems, sovereignty and population.
He contends that while the strategy is presented as a framework for strengthening global health cooperation, Kenya, like her African counterparts, should independently assess its objectives, implementation mechanisms, and potential impact before embracing it.
The concerns were raised during a discussion with journalists in Nairobi in which Ayo Kimathi, the activist, questioned whether the strategy adequately reflects African priorities.
Subsequently, he warned against some policies he believes could disproportionately affect developing countries, with Kenya in particular.
“This initiative, among others such as the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), should have been subjected to public debate and expert review,” he emphasised. Ayo, who was in the country recently, strongly believes that there’s a sinister motive behind this US-driven initiative.
The U.S. government has described the Global Health Strategy as a roadmap for advancing global health security, preventing disease outbreaks, strengthening health systems, and promoting equitable access to healthcare through international partnerships. Those who support the initiative, such as President William Ruto, say the strategy is intended to improve collaboration with partner countries and address shared health challenges.
Ruto described the strategy as a landmark 5-year bilateral partnership that includes $1.6 billion in U.S. funding and $850 million in Kenyan domestic financing.
“It shifts healthcare funding away from non-governmental organizations directly to state institutions, driving Kenya toward health sovereignty by 2030,” Ruto stated when he put his signature on the document.
The activists’ concerns add to an ongoing debate over the role of foreign-funded health initiatives in Africa, with supporters emphasizing the benefits of international cooperation and critics calling for greater transparency, accountability and locally driven health policies.
Kimathi alleged that the strategy resembles previous international health initiatives, which he claimed were presented as humanitarian assistance but ultimately advanced the interests of powerful groups. “Certain individuals – who wield influence over the governments of the United States and other Western nations with the objective of reducing the global population – are behind this strategy,” he further claimed.
He claimed that vaccination programmes have been used as a means of large-scale population reduction and alleged that the COVID-19 pandemic was caused by a deliberately released bioweapon. They further asserted that hospital treatment protocols, rather than the virus itself, were responsible for many deaths during the pandemic.
