By Lenah Bosibori
Kenya’s healthcare system is at a crossroads. As donor funding steadily declines, health experts are raising alarm over the crumbling of data systems that once formed the backbone of disease tracking, patient management, and drug distribution.
Speaking during a thought leadership forum on the reduction in Official Development Assistance (ODA), hosted by the Kenya Editors’ Guild (KEG) in Nairobi, Dr. Willis Akhwale, special advisor at the End Malaria Council and former Chair of Kenya’s COVID-19 Taskforce, warned that the data systems that support decision-making are breaking down and this affects everything from drug supply to patient follow-up
“Without robust data systems, we’re likely to see more mother-to-child HIV transmissions, and a rise in malaria, TB, and other infectious diseases,” he warned, adding that data should guide what medicines we stock in what region.
“If a community is prone to malaria, supply anti-malarial. If hypertension is common, stock those drugs. Without data, we’ll always have mismatches.”
Dr. Akhwale explained that global funding historically targeted specific vertical programs like HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and immunization. These programs, while expensive, dramatically reduced deaths and improved lives. But with the exit of donor support, the systems that monitored treatment, tracked medication, and flagged high-risk patients are being scaled back or shut down altogether.
“Without robust data systems, healthcare workers are walking in the dark,” he warned. “We risk seeing a rise in preventable conditions like mother-to-child HIV transmission and multidrug-resistant TB.”
Dr. Akhwale added that some of the most immediate consequences include job losses of highly skilled health workers who managed these programs, and ripple effects in industries like travel and hospitality, which hosted donor-related health activities.
“The reduction in donor funding didn’t begin today,” he added. “It started a while back. It has only been worsened by the significant cuts, particularly from the U.S. government.”
Why Data Systems Matter
Accurate health data is essential for planning and response. Systems built with donor funding helped track who was taking medication, who had defaulted, and who was likely to develop complications.
“Without such information, it becomes difficult to stock the right drugs, predict outbreaks, or intervene early,” said Dr. Akhwale. “If we don’t know how many TB patients are adhering to medication or which regions are showing spikes in malaria, we are blind to the next health emergency.”
According to Dr. Githinji Gitahi, CEO of Amref Health Africa, Kenya spends about KES 650 billion ($5 billion) annually on health. Of this, only KES 129.2 billion ($1 billion) comes from donors, while KES 516 billion ($4 billion) is sourced from local taxes and citizens’ out-of-pocket spending.
“Eighty percent of our health budget is already financed by Kenyans either through taxes or by families selling land to pay hospital bills,” said Dr. Gitahi.“So, this isn’t about charity. It’s about asking: how can we reorganize the money we already have to protect the most vulnerable?”
He added that programs supporting HIV treatment, TB care, and family planning previously funded by donors must now be prioritized in national and county budgets.
Health experts argue that Kenya and Africa more broadly must shift focus from expensive treatment to health production: investing in clean water, sanitation, nutrition, walkable communities, and disease prevention.
“Treating disease is costly and unsustainable. But producing health helps keep people healthy and saves money and lives,” said Dr. Gitahi.
He emphasized that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, hypertension, and diabetes now account for 50% of hospital admissions, surpassing HIV, TB, and malaria. Many of these diseases are preventable through better regulation of food, urban safety, and active lifestyles.
While many Kenyans believe private hospitals offer better care, Dr. Gitahi pointed out that the best specialists, labs, and facilities often reside in public institutions. The problem lies not in medical quality but in customer service, compassionate care, and patient experience.
“We must invest in making public hospitals the first choice for all citizens, not just those who can’t afford private care,” he said. “Let private hospitals complement, not replace, public services.”
To maximize limited resources, Kenya must embrace precision public health, using local data to make local decisions.
KEG CEO Rosalia Omungo reiterated, “We need to reframe the narrative on African agency. We believe in advancing a narrative of co-responsibility one that clearly outlines the roles that African governments, the private sector, and philanthropists must play in financing sustainable health systems.”
