
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has cautioned African leaders against over dependence on foreign aid, instead of working on ways to fill the financial gaps they are facing.
This follows US President Donald Trump’s decision to halt US aid to the world.
Speaking during the East Africa Region Global Health Security Summit 2025, converged by Safaricom, Kenyatta said President Trump’s move should act as a wake-up call to African leaders to venture on self-reliance mechanism and stop crying.
“I saw some people the other day crying that Trump has removed funding. It is not your government, nor your country, you don’t pay taxes there, why are you crying?” he posed.
The former President continued, “Trump has no reason to give you anything, you don’t pay taxes in America. This is a wake-up call for you to monitor your sustainability steps and end over dependence for foreign aid,”
Misplaced priorities
Uhuru further noted that Africa loses billions in purchasing weapons for war instead of channeling such resources to health, education among other critical sectors.
The retired President further disclosed that African continent should prepare for pandemics and put in place policies to deal with such threats in future and not heavily relying on vaccines from foreign countries.
“As Africans, we should not wait for others to come to our rescue. we are so happy when we watch BBC and CNN celebrate new vaccines being rolled out. Remember none of these is for us. I don’t think they will prioritise us in future pandemics, they have to sort themselves first before throwing the remains for free to us,” said the former President.
Following his inauguration, President Trump paused foreign aid and withdrew the United States from the World Health Organisation (WHO). This move affected countries depending on foreign aid from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
In Kenya, the move affected the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) an initiative which saved lives for people living positively or suffering from other Syndemic diseases.