Former U.S. President Barack Obama has strongly opposed President Donald Trump’s decision to temporarily halt foreign aid, calling it a serious mistake in foreign policy.
After assuming office in January, Trump signed a series of executive orders, including a 90-day suspension of U.S. foreign aid and the country’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO).
This move sparked uncertainty, particularly in African nations like Kenya, which rely heavily on financial assistance from developed countries to support key economic and humanitarian programs.
Obama, while retweeting a New York Times article, reaffirmed the importance of U.S. foreign aid. He highlighted that it plays a crucial role in fighting diseases, feeding vulnerable children, and fostering positive international relations.
He further urged Congress to resist any attempts to dismantle USAID, the agency responsible for distributing aid globally.
“For six decades, USAID has been at the forefront of efforts to combat disease, provide food for children, and promote goodwill across the world.
As this article points out, shutting down this agency would be a significant foreign policy blunder—one that Congress must oppose,” Obama tweeted on Friday, February 7, 2025.
While Obama condemned Trump’s decision, Kenya’s former President Uhuru Kenyatta expressed a different perspective.
He saw the aid suspension as a wake-up call for African leaders to take greater responsibility for solving their own challenges rather than depending on external support.
Uhuru encouraged African governments to use this moment as an opportunity to strengthen self-reliance and build sustainable solutions for economic growth.
In Kenya, USAID has been instrumental in providing life-saving emergency food assistance and therapeutic nutrition programs, particularly for refugees and vulnerable communities.
The agency has also played a key role in responding to natural and man-made disasters by offering humanitarian aid, clean drinking water, hygiene kits, and medical supplies.
Each year, the United States has allocated more than Ksh80 billion to support vital programs in Kenya, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Malaria Initiative, and the Global Health Security Agenda.
Beyond healthcare, USAID-funded projects have created thousands of jobs for Kenyans working in development and relief efforts.
However, Trump’s decision to pause aid had devastating effects on USAID’s global workforce, leading to widespread layoffs.
In Kenya alone, more than 40,000 people whose jobs depended on U.S. government-funded programs faced an uncertain future, with many at risk of losing their employment.
Obama’s firm stance against the aid suspension reflects his broader vision of global cooperation, while Uhuru’s remarks underscore the urgent need for African nations to chart their own path toward economic independence.
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