Nairobi, February 17- The Kenyan government has announced plans to inject Sh24.9 billion into programs impacted by the United States’ suspension of foreign aid.
The freeze stems from policy changes introduced by the administration of US President Donald Trump, which saw the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) halt funding for various initiatives worldwide. The decision is expected to have significant economic consequences, particularly in developing nations where USAID supports crucial programs in healthcare, food security, and poverty alleviation.
In Kenya, some of the most affected sectors include HIV/AIDS programs, which rely heavily on donor funding.
Speaking at a national health summit on Monday, officials from both national and county governments resolved to continue engaging with the US in an effort to sustain USAID-funded programs. The government is currently pursuing diplomatic channels to seek waivers and approvals that would allow these initiatives to continue.
However, if these efforts prove unsuccessful, the government is prepared to absorb the Sh24.9 billion funding gap through the national budget. Already, Sh2 billion has been allocated for vaccines, while an additional Sh2.5 billion has been set aside to mitigate potential disruptions caused by the Vaccine Alliance Gavi freeze.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki acknowledged the challenges posed by sudden policy shifts from development partners but reassured Kenyans that healthcare service delivery will not be compromised.
“Certain development partners have recently made abrupt changes regarding the financing of health programs,” Kindiki stated. “However, we are committed to ensuring that these decisions do not affect the availability of essential services in Kenya.”
He emphasized that the government is implementing contingency measures to prevent disruptions in healthcare delivery.
Meanwhile, health officials at the summit warned that if donor funding continues to decline, Kenya could see up to 58,495 new HIV infections by 2030.
With uncertainty surrounding foreign aid, Kenya is now working to secure alternative funding solutions to protect its most vulnerable populations.
