Billionaires Step In to Support Kenya After Trump’s Aid Cuts
Kenya is set to receive a major financial boost in its healthcare sector after a group of wealthy philanthropists and international organisations pledged a massive Ksh64.65 billion (equivalent to USD 500 million) to support health services.
Among the main contributors are the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Mohamed Bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity (formerly known as UAE aid), and a group of American donors.
This funding package comes at a time when Kenya’s health sector is struggling, especially due to recent reductions in foreign aid after U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration made deep cuts to international funding programmes.
The new support package will mainly focus on improving maternal and newborn health care, which has been among the most affected areas.
While the health initiative will operate across sub-Saharan Africa, its central office will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.
According to Alice Kang’ethe, the fund’s Chief Executive Officer, the idea for this project has been under development for over a year.
However, it has gained new urgency as more governments across the world have followed the United States in reducing international support.
Speaking to Reuters, Kang’ethe described this as a timely opportunity, noting that the fund’s approach will be different from past donor efforts.
“We want to work with African governments, experts, and organisations, rather than just flying in foreign experts or bringing foreign technology,” she said.
The long-term goal of the initiative is to save the lives of at least 300,000 mothers and newborn babies by the year 2030.
It also aims to improve access to quality healthcare services for over 34 million mothers and babies across the African continent.
In addition to the main funding, the partners have also committed an extra Ksh12.94 billion (USD 100 million) specifically for direct investments in maternal and child health. This amount is separate from the Ksh64.65 billion healthcare fund.
The initiative will not only benefit Kenya but will also extend its reach to several other African nations, including Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Lesotho, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
One of the main goals of the project is to identify and tackle the main causes of death among mothers and infants. These include infections, excessive bleeding after childbirth, and breathing difficulties in newborns.
Other organisations supporting the effort include the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Delta Philanthropies, and the ELMA Foundation, all of which have joined forces to fill the gap left by the decline in U.S. funding.
Trump’s decision to slash funding from key American programmes like the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has put many healthcare services in Kenya and beyond under serious pressure.
These cuts have already led to job losses and reduced access to care for vulnerable groups.
However, in February 2025, the U.S. government announced a temporary 90-day waiver on the PEPFAR programme under USAID.
This waiver allows healthcare workers under the programme to continue their services during this period, but uncertainty remains about long-term support.
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