The recent suspension of U.S. foreign aid programs has highlighted a deeper crisis in Kenya’s health sector: its longstanding dependence on donor funding to maintain essential services.
Following a 90-day review of foreign assistance ordered by the U.S. government in January, major programs including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar) were abruptly halted. Although a temporary waiver issued in February allowed some humanitarian services to resume, the disruption exposed the fragility of Kenya’s ability to independently support life-saving interventions for HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis.
The impact has been immediate. Clinics faced delays in antiretroviral therapy distribution. Testing programs and TB treatment initiatives were scaled back. And while the Pepfar waiver permitted the continuation of critical services, gaps remain particularly in supply chain logistics and long-term planning.
A further 30-day extension has done little to address the root issue: Kenya lacks a sustainable domestic funding strategy for its public health programs, and now experts say the crisis could be a turning point.
Kenya’s Ministry of Health has acknowledged the urgency of building local capacity, but budget constraints, competing national priorities, and limited infrastructure have slowed progress.
As the country continues to navigate the uncertainty around donor funds, healthcare workers on the ground warn that the consequences of inaction could be long-lasting.
