NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyan civil society organizations have raised alarm over the devastating impact of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding freeze, warning that the suspension has crippled the country’s healthcare system.
Speaking to the press on Thursday, the groups revealed that the 90-day suspension has led to the loss of over 35,000 health sector jobs and forced the closure of 150 clinics nationwide.
Additionally, 72,000 Kenyans relying on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment have been left in limbo, jeopardizing HIV/AIDS management efforts across the country.
“We have healthcare workers who were on the frontline, now rendered jobless. Patients, especially those in HIV treatment programs, are at great risk due to disrupted services,” said a representative from one of the organizations.
The civil society leaders urged the Kenyan government to step in and mitigate the crisis by allocating emergency funding to sustain essential health services that were previously supported by USAID.
They also called for better integration of affected healthcare workers into county health systems to prevent further disruptions in service delivery.
The U.S. government imposed a stop-work order on all foreign assistance programs, including those under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), on January 30.
Although a subsequent waiver allowed for the continuation of critical life-saving programs—including the supply of essential medicines, food aid, and medical services—funding remains suspended for programs related to abortion services, family planning, gender and diversity initiatives, and non-life-saving assistance.
Kenyan health advocates are now appealing to the U.S. government to fully lift the suspension, emphasizing that the funding freeze is pushing the country’s healthcare system toward collapse.
With thousands at risk of losing access to critical treatment, stakeholders warn that failure to resolve the crisis could reverse years of progress in Kenya’s fight against HIV/AIDS and other major health challenges.
