Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly (MCA) Robert Alai has criticized the reliance on foreign aid, describing it as a form of modern colonialism.
Taking to his X account on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, Alai expressed opposition to the practice of accepting aid for essential sectors such as education, health, agriculture, and security, arguing that such dependency compromises a country’s sovereignty.
“Nobody should give us aid to fund education, health, agriculture, and security. NOBODY! Any country allowing aid for these sectors is simply allowing modern colonialism and complete control of its people and affairs,” Alai posted.
The MCA’s statement comes in the wake of a controversial decision by US President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend foreign aid for 90 days. The suspension, one of Trump’s first executive orders since assuming office, affects funding for critical medical supplies and programs in countries that rely heavily on aid from USAID.
The suspension will halt the provision of essential medications for diseases like HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as supplies for newborn care in affected countries.
Uhuru on foreign aid
Earlier, former President Uhuru Kenyatta urged African leaders to cease lamenting about the cessation of foreign aid from the United States.
Speaking during the inaugural East Africa Region Global Health Security Summit in Mombasa on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, Uhuru explained that Trump has no obligation to provide aid, emphasizing that Trump is prioritizing the needs of his citizens.
“I saw some people the other day crying that Trump has removed funding. It is not your government, it’s not your country. He has no reason to give you anything. You don’t pay taxes in America. He is appealing to his people. This is a wake-up call for you to say ‘Okay, what are we going to do for ourselves’,” he stated.
He criticized African leaders for misallocating their resources, such as investing in unnecessary conflicts and wars.
“Nobody is going to continue holding a hand out there to give you (money). It is time for us to use our resources for the right things. We are the ones using them for the wrong things. The bullets and the guns we buy we are not given for free. We buy them. And we are not buying them to go and fight wars off our shores. We are fighting our people. Brother killing sister, sister killing brother over stupid things,” he added.
