Kisumu senator Tom Ojienda has disclosed that US President Donald Trump’s decision to freeze funding of USAID has affected Kenyans who have been depending on programs.
In a statement, on Friday, February 7, 2025, Ojienda stated that vulnerable Kenyans are at risk following Trump’s policy.
He went on to say that the policy has not only affected the financial support but also job opportunities.
“Imagine waking up to a world where the help you’ve come to rely on is suddenly pulled away. For millions in Kenya, this is the painful reality. U.S. foreign aid(USAID), which for decades has been a lifeline, is being drastically reduced under the Trump administration.
“Vulnerable populations are at risk of falling through the cracks, and for them, this isn’t just a policy issue it’s a fight for survival and with this shift, people are losing more than just financial support. They’re losing opportunities, jobs, and, for some, even their futures,” he wrote via his official X account.
@ProfOjiendaTom/X
In addition, the senator added that many programs in Kenya which depended on USAID support are crumbling including critical health care.
“Programs funded by USAID have put food on the table for countless families, supported critical health care for the sick, and created jobs for young people eager for a better future. Now, many of those programs are crumbling.
“Unemployment rates are soaring, and poverty creeping back into places where it seemed to be receding. Families that had begun to see hope in the face of a brighter future now wallow in uncertainty, helplessness and despair. But beyond the dollars and the legal contracts, there’s a human cost,” he added.
Apart from the job loss, Ojienda says students who depended on U.S scholarships are also at risk following the sudden withdrawal.
“There are students who depend on scholarships, teachers supported by U.S. educational programs, and communities that have come to rely on basic services funded by international aid. With this sudden withdrawal, many are left without support, at risk of losing the very services they need to survive,” he stated.
He further stated that the country should learn a lesson following Trump’s executive orders and that the human cost would no longer be ignored.
“Let’s hope that as President Trump reconsiders this very harsh stance, the lessons of this retreat will be learned, and the human cost will no longer be ignored,” he added.
Imagine waking up to a world where the help you’ve come to rely on is suddenly pulled away. For millions in Kenya, this is the painful reality. U.S. foreign aid(USAID), which for decades has been a lifeline, is being drastically reduced under the Trump administration. And with…
— Senator.Prof. Tom Ojienda SC (@ProfOjiendaTom) February 7, 2025
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