Senator Olekina Urges Gov’t To Stop Relying On Foreign Aid
Following the halting of US funding, Narok County Senator Ledama Olekina stated that it is time for Kenya to learn to be independent.
Ledama stated on Wednesday that there is a need to realign Kenya’s existing resources and collaborate to develop the economy.
The senator claimed that President Donald Trump is now determined to focus on the American economy and encouraging patriotism so that Kenya can thrive as well.
“It’s time to embrace independence! Let’s realign our existing resources and work together to strengthen our economy,” he said.
When President Trump took office on January 20, he issued the Stop-Work Order, which suspended all US foreign assistance programs for 90 days while they were reviewed to see if they aligned with his policy objectives.
It's time to embrace independence! Let's realign our existing resources and work together to strengthen our economy. President Trump is committed to focusing on building the American economy! Stop corruption and have a sense of patriotism!
— Sen. Ledama Olekina (@ledamalekina) February 5, 2025
The order will affect thousands of HIV patients, as well as over 25,000 medics and community healthcare workers who will be temporarily laid off.
It will also affect nearly 20 million individuals, including those in Kenya, who are receiving assistance from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and USAID.
On Monday, National Treasury CS John Mbadi stated that the government is striving to fund the programs impacted by the aid freeze.
Addressing journalists in Naivasha, he claimed that the development budget will be reduced to fund the initiatives and that the government will rely on local financing.
“We will have no alternative but to slash part of the development budget and use the funds to finance critical programmes that will be starved of cash if the US stops foreign aid,” Mbadi said.
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“There is no cause for alarm as I have started to put measures in place to ensure that health programmes that depended heavily on foreign aid are not paralysed.”
He stated that health projects such as the fight against HIV/AIDS were vital to save lives and that the government would give resources to assure their continuation.
He acknowledged that the government relies on US donor funds for health and security programmes.
Mbadi admitted that the absence of financing would be a significant blow to such projects.
Senator Olekina Urges Gov’t To Stop Relying On Foreign Aid
