America First policies are beginning to ripple across East Africa and Kenya now stands at the epicentre of this shifting global tide. The withdrawal of USAid’s support, once a cornerstone of Kenya’s health and development agenda, has triggered a fiscal reckoning with far-reaching consequences.
With over Sh252 billion in annual aid frozen and further reductions expected from European partners, the country faces an urgent question: In the absence of external assistance, will Kenya turn to debt to fill the gap? What will become of critical sectors such as health, agriculture, and social protection which have long depended on donor funding?
