Former US President Barrack Obama has cautioned President Donald Trump over his plan to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
In a statement dated Friday, February 7, Obama expressed that the move was a profound foreign policy mistake.
He explained that the US, through the agency, had helped many people worldwide through health and feeding programmes.
Therefore, Obama opined that such a move would impact the US and its foreign relations, further calling on Congress to reject the move.
"USAID has been fighting disease, feeding children, and promoting goodwill around the world for six decades. As this article makes clear, dismantling this agency would be a profound foreign policy mistake - one that Congress should resist," read the statement in part.
Read More
USAID has been fighting disease, feeding children, and promoting goodwill around the world for six decades. As this article makes clear, dismantling this agency would be a profound foreign policy mistake - one that Congress should resist. https://t.co/MSsgZ82QbX
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 7, 2025
Kenya is among the countries that will be hit the worst by the dismantling of the agency. This is because of the numerous programmes that the agency has been running in Kenya, especially in the health sector.
On average, Kenya receives Ksh64 billion per year from USAID and other US agencies and departments.
Notably, dismantling the agency could see some Kenyans employed in the health sector lose their jobs.
Trump's move could also be a setback to the gains that Kenya has made in the fight against HIV and TB as USAID has been one of the major funders of the programmes across the country.
On the other hand, some leaders including former President Uhuru Kenyatta have called on African leaders to focus on using their own resources without depending on foreign aid.
"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," Uhuru stated during a conference in Mombasa.
