Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has called out Kenyan leaders for expressing disappointment over former U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to halt foreign aid, urging them to focus on self-reliance instead.
Speaking in Mombasa on Wednesday, Kenyatta questioned why some government officials were upset about the aid cut, emphasizing that Trump had no obligation to fund Kenya.
“I saw some people the other day crying that Trump has removed funding; that he is not giving us any more money. Why are you crying? It is not your government, not your country. He has no reason to give you anything,” Kenyatta stated.
He described the move as a necessary wake-up call, encouraging leaders to prioritize the effective use of Kenya’s own resources.
“This is a wake-up call for you to say, ‘What are we going to do to help ourselves?’ instead of crying. Nobody is going to continue holding out a hand to give you. It is time for us to use our resources for the right things. We are the ones using them for the wrong things,” he added.
His remarks came a day after Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei expressed concern over Trump’s decision, warning that it could hinder African countries’ ability to meet health and development goals.
“The announced pause to U.S. foreign assistance will unfortunately impair the ability of many African countries to meet health and other targets and undermine the realization of SDGs,” Sing’Oei stated on Tuesday.
He, however, acknowledged the need for Africa to reduce its dependency on external aid, urging governments to find sustainable solutions.
Trump’s decision to cut foreign assistance has sparked reactions across Africa, with some leaders calling for alternative funding strategies to support key development programs.