Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has urged the United States government to reconsider its decision to freeze foreign aid following Donald Trump’s executive orders.
Raila warned that cuts to USAID funding would severely affect vulnerable communities that depend on aid for healthcare and other essential services.
In a statement on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, after hosting the U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Marc D. Dillard, Charge d’Affaires, Odinga expressed deep concerns over the crippling of USAID operations in Kenya, warning that the move could have devastating consequences on humanitarian services, particularly access to life-saving medication.
In addition to concerns over foreign aid, the leaders also discussed current affairs in Kenya and political developments in the USA.
“I hosted Amb. Marc D. Dillard, Charge d’Affaires, Embassy of the United States of America @USAmbKenya, who was accompanied by Political Officer Claire Thomas. We reviewed the state of the Kenyan nation and political developments in the USA, “Odinga stated.
“I expressed my deep worries about the crippling of USAID and appealed to the US government to rethink decisions that will affect access to humanitarian services, particularly access to life-saving medication.
USAID funds
The USAID funding freeze has caused significant challenges for many NGOs in Kenya, particularly those that rely on foreign aid for their operations. Many organizations have been forced to suspend or terminate programs, leading to job losses and uncertainty for thousands of beneficiaries. The sudden halt in funding has put these essential services at risk, leaving vulnerable communities without the necessary support.
The NGO sector is a major employer in Kenya, offering well-paying jobs for skilled professionals. With the suspension of USAID funds, many workers in the sector have been laid off, while others face the threat of losing their livelihoods. The ripple effect of the funding cut has extended beyond the organizations themselves, affecting families and communities that depend on these programs for assistance.
US cuts HIV funding.
The notice issued on February 2025 that US funding of UNAIDS is being cut off is the latest move by the Trump administration to end American involvement in life-saving health and anti-poverty programs around the world. It was issued by Peter Marocco, a Trump loyalist who is spearheading the evisceration of the US overseas aid program through USAID.
Marocco said in a letter to UNAIDS that its funding was being terminated for the convenience of the US government.
The Trump administration’s funding freeze on foreign assistance has already wreaked havoc on HIV treatment programs worldwide.
Before the funding freeze, the US government was responsible for two-thirds of all international financing for HIV prevention in low- and middle-income countries. Much of it came through the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), which was founded by George W. Bush in 2003 and which has financed about 70% of the global Aids response.
