A new trade agreement signed between President William Ruto and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has raised concerns among lawmakers and public health experts.
The experts have warned that the deal could affect access to affordable medicine in the country.
The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), signed by President William Ruto and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, aims to boost bilateral trade but may come at a cost to Kenya’s public health system.
Further, members of the National Assembly’s Health and Trade Committee were told that some clauses in the deal could extend pharmaceutical patents, delaying the production of cheaper generic medicines locally.
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Why MPs don’t want the Deal Effected
Therefore, Health Committee Chairperson Dr. James Nyikal has said the committee must seek the Speaker’s indulgence to scrutinise the agreement before it is ratified.
“This agreement will bypass laws which mean we cannot use generics or buy drugs from elsewhere where it is cheaper, and the government cannot get someone to manufacture it for the use of the public health or interest.”
“If we remove that, drugs will definitely be expensive, and generics will also not be used,” he said.
Additionally, experts have warned that if the deal is implemented as is, it could affect local drug manufacturing and limit access to life-saving medications, especially for low-income patients who rely on generic options.
The committee is now calling for a full review of the deal to protect Kenya’s health interests before it moves to ratification.
According to Former MP Jude Njomo, some clauses in the deal also allow foreigners to own land within the country, which is against the constitution of Kenya.
“If our country signs it, it becomes part of the law of Kenya. If we allow foreigners to come and own land, they will be recognised by law.”
“But no law is more superior than our constitution which says no foreigners can own land in Kenya. So that in itself makes that treaty unconstitutional,” he said.
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What Ruto Said About the Deal
Kenya and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on May 8, to strengthen bilateral ties across key sectors, according to a statement from the State House.
The signing ceremony, held at State House, Nairobi, was witnessed by President William Ruto and His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The agreements included military cooperation, economic development, energy, transport, Customs, private sector engagement, and railway infrastructure.
In the energy sector, the two countries agreed to collaborate on renewable energy projects including wind, solar, and geothermal, with an emphasis on technical capacity building, technology transfer, and accelerating the clean energy transition to increase access and sustainability.
The transport agreement outlined a framework for cooperation in rail, aviation, and road transport, supporting joint projects, feasibility studies, infrastructure investment, and regulatory harmonisation.
In Customs, the MoU aimed to strengthen enforcement, combat illicit trade, enhance information sharing, and streamline cross-border procedures.
A Kenya-UAE Joint Business Council will also be established to deepen private sector engagement, foster trade and investment, and provide joint policy recommendations to both governments.
Additionally, a partnership between the Kenya Railways Corporation and the Etihad Rail Company is expected to advance Kenya’s railway sector through knowledge exchange, testing of new technologies, and expanded industrial cooperation.
The military cooperation agreement committed both nations to collaborate on matters of national security, institutional capacity building, and the promotion of regional peace, in line with their respective laws and international obligations.
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