US Pledges Sh750 Million for Kenya's Covid-19 Response

The US government, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has committed additional funding of $6.6 million (Sh705 million) towards Kenya’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The funds will be used for surveillance, laboratory supplies, and staffing costs, among others, according to the US Embassy in Nairobi. “This funding builds on CDC’s long-standing global investments to control HIV, TB, and malaria, eradicate polio, prepare for influenza and other pandemic diseases,” the embassy said in a statement on Tuesday, April 28th.

“For more than 40 years, CDC has supported Kenya’s Ministry of Health (MOH) to improve health security, which has laid foundations to rapidly and effectively prepare for emerging disease threats, including the current COVID-19 pandemic.”

The embassy added that part of the funding ($1.8 million or Sh192 million) will be released immediately to support Kenya’s critical needs for the Covid-19 response.

The amount will be used to procure diagnostic sampling and testing equipment, provide county-level support, expand Covid-19 surveillance, and support healthcare workers in infection prevention and control.

“Our commitment goes beyond funding – it’s in our contribution to national policies, to investing in the healthcare workforce and to strengthening health systems. We have been working alongside Kenya’s public health officials for more than five decades and continue to stand with Kenya throughout this crisis,” US Ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter said.

CDC has deployed about 50 Kenya-based technical experts to support Kenya’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic since January this year.

Kenya had already received $1 million (Sh100 million) from the US to boost its response to the bug. The additional funds push the total US support to Kenya to nearly Sh1 billion.

The funding comes days after President Trump held a phone conversation with President Uhuru and pledged to support Kenya's fight against the disease.