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A Wake-Up Call For Africa: Kenya’s Leadership Must Answer For Every Death And Job Lost

BY Steve Biko Wafula · February 3, 2025 08:02 pm

The decision by the U.S. to cut USAID funding has sent shockwaves across Africa, particularly in Kenya, where millions rely on these programs for healthcare, education, and economic support. While the move may appear harsh, it is a necessary jolt to the conscience of African nations, forcing them to confront the uncomfortable truth: decades of dependency on foreign aid have masked systemic failures in governance, accountability, and self-reliance. This moment is not about the U.S. abandoning Africa; it is about Africa, and Kenya in particular, being forced to look inward and reckon with the consequences of its own leadership’s incompetence.

For too long, African governments have treated foreign aid as a perpetual lifeline, using it to paper over cracks created by corruption, mismanagement, and a lack of vision. The withdrawal of USAID funding is not the cause of the impending crisis—it is merely exposing the rot that has been festering beneath the surface. If hospitals close, if HIV and TB patients are left without medication, if jobs are lost, the blame lies squarely at the feet of Kenyan leaders who have consistently failed to prioritize the welfare of their citizens. These are not failures of the U.S.; they are failures of a system that has allowed leaders to loot public funds with impunity while expecting foreign donors to foot the bill for basic services.

The reliance on foreign aid has created a dangerous cycle of dependency, stifling innovation and self-sufficiency. Instead of investing in sustainable local solutions, Kenyan leaders have grown complacent, knowing that donor funds would always be there to fill the gaps. This complacency has come at a steep cost: a healthcare system that cannot function without external support, an education system that fails to equip young people with the skills needed for the modern economy, and an infrastructure network that remains underdeveloped despite billions in aid. The U.S. decision to cut funding should not be seen as an act of cruelty but as a wake-up call for Kenya to take ownership of its future.

The truth is, the U.S. owes Kenya nothing. Foreign aid is not an entitlement; it is a gesture of goodwill, one that has been exploited by African leaders for far too long. The real question is not why the U.S. is cutting funding but why Kenya has failed to build a healthcare system that can sustain itself, why it has not created an economy robust enough to provide jobs for its citizens, and why it has not rooted out the corruption that continues to drain public resources. These are failures of leadership, not of foreign policy.

Read Also: Kenya Faces A Ticking Time Bomb As Youth Unemployment Soars Threatening Fatal Civil Unrest

Countries like Singapore and Rwanda offer stark contrasts to Kenya’s predicament. Both nations were once plagued by poverty and instability, but through disciplined leadership, strategic planning, and a commitment to self-reliance, they have transformed themselves into models of progress. Rwanda, in particular, has made remarkable strides in healthcare and economic development, reducing its reliance on foreign aid and investing in homegrown solutions. Kenya, on the other hand, has squandered its potential, choosing short-term gains over long-term stability. The difference lies not in resources but in leadership.

The suffering that may result from the loss of USAID funding should serve as a catalyst for change, not a reason for despair. This is a moment for Kenyan citizens to demand accountability from their leaders, to insist on transparency, and to push for reforms that prioritize the public good over private gain. It is a moment to ask why, after decades of independence, Kenya still relies on foreign donors to provide basic services that should be the responsibility of the government. The closure of USAID programs should not be met with resignation but with outrage—outrage at the leaders who have failed to build a self-sustaining nation.

The real tragedy is not the loss of USAID funding but the fact that Kenya needed it in the first place. It is a tragedy that a country with such immense potential—rich in natural resources, blessed with a young and dynamic population, and strategically located as a hub for trade and innovation—has been brought to its knees by greed and incompetence. The U.S. decision to cut funding is not the problem; it is merely holding up a mirror to Kenya’s failures. The question now is whether Kenya will have the courage to confront what it sees in that mirror.

This is a critical moment for Kenya and for Africa as a whole. The continent stands at a crossroads, faced with a choice between continuing down the path of dependency or seizing the opportunity to build a future defined by self-reliance and accountability. The loss of USAID funding should not be seen as a punishment but as a challenge—a challenge to Kenyan leaders to step up and do their jobs, to Kenyan citizens to hold their leaders accountable, and to the nation as a whole to redefine its priorities.

The road ahead will not be easy. There will be pain, there will be setbacks, and there will be moments of doubt. But if Kenya can rise to the occasion, if it can use this moment to confront its failures and chart a new course, it will emerge stronger, more resilient, and truly independent. The U.S. has done Kenya a favor by forcing it to confront its own shortcomings. Now it is up to Kenya to decide whether it will continue to blame others for its problems or take responsibility for its own future.

The time for excuses is over. Every death that results from the loss of healthcare funding, every job lost due to economic instability, every child denied an education because of government inefficiency—these are not the fault of the U.S. or any foreign power. They are the fault of Kenyan leaders who have failed their people. This is the moment for Kenya to turn inward, to reflect, and to act. The world is watching, and the choice is clear: continue down the path of dependency, or rise to the challenge and build a nation that can stand on its own feet. The future of Kenya depends on the decisions made today.

Read Also: Kenya’s Unemployment Crisis: A Nation of Dreams Trapped In Stagnant Wages And Disappearing Opportunities

Steve Biko is the CEO OF Soko Directory and the founder of Hidalgo Group of Companies. Steve is currently developing his career in law, finance, entrepreneurship and digital consultancy; and has been implementing consultancy assignments for client organizations comprising of trainings besides capacity building in entrepreneurial matters. He can be reached on: +254 20 510 1124 or Email: info@sokodirectory.com

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