Former US President Barack Obama has condemned the decision by President Donald Trump to pause foreign aid to other countries, calling it a “profound foreign policy mistake.”
The move, which was part of a series of executive orders signed by Trump after his inauguration in January 2025, includes a 90-day suspension of US foreign aid and a withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO).
In a tweet shared on February 7, 2025, Obama emphasized the crucial role foreign aid plays in combating disease, feeding children, and fostering goodwill worldwide. He cautioned that withdrawing aid could have significant negative impacts, particularly for countries that rely heavily on international assistance, such as Kenya.
“USAID has been combating disease, feeding children, and promoting goodwill around the world for six decades. As this article makes clear, dismantling this agency would be a profound foreign policy mistake—one that Congress should resist,” Obama said, retweeting an article by The New York Times.
While Obama’s remarks were critical, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta took a contrasting stance. He praised Trump’s decision, describing it as a wake-up call for African leaders to work towards self-sufficiency and find solutions to their own challenges.
Uhuru urged African nations to use the withdrawal of foreign aid as an opportunity to strengthen their economies and independence.
In Kenya, USAID has played a significant role, providing emergency food assistance, therapeutic nutrition to refugees, and delivering humanitarian aid during disasters. The US government has been a key partner in critical health programs, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Malaria Initiative, and the Global Health Security Agenda, disbursing over Ksh80 billion annually to support these efforts.
However, Trump’s decision has led to widespread uncertainty. USAID’s workforce across the globe, including more than 40,000 workers in Kenya, has been hit with layoffs, putting many employees at risk of unemployment. The cuts have raised concerns about the future of vital development programs in the country.
The ongoing debate underscores the stark differences in how foreign aid is viewed and its role in global politics. As the US reassesses its foreign assistance policies, the effects are already being felt on the ground in Kenya and beyond.
