Nearly 40,000 Kenyans are facing job losses as the U.S. government moves to shut down overseas aid missions and merge USAID with the State Department.
The freeze, part of President Donald Trump’s foreign aid cuts, has hit Kenya hard, particularly affecting healthcare workers supported by U.S. funding.
Across the country, empty clinics, abandoned offices, and parked vehicles tell the story of a crisis unfolding.
In affected counties, hospitals are already laying off doctors, nurses, midwives, and community health workers previously funded by USAID programs. One of the hardest-hit facilities, Marengo County Hospital, has dismissed staff after losing KSh 50 million in funding.
Fifty-one of our staff were on USAID’s payroll, providing HIV and AIDS care, an official confirmed.
The layoffs could reach 35,000, triggering fears over the continuity of crucial health programs. Many affected workers describe their situation as dire.
“We weren’t ready for this. We are now jobless and mentally struggling. We need government intervention, one laid-off worker pleaded.
The biggest concern is the future of HIV and AIDS treatment, with millions relying on USAID-funded programs.
While the Kenyan Ministry of Health has pledged to step in, officials admit the crisis highlights the need for sustainable domestic health financing.
In response, National Treasury officials are exploring ways to reallocate funds to prevent total collapse. Financier John Mbadi has also assured that development funds will be redirected to keep essential services running.
Meanwhile, USAID has placed most of its staff on administrative leave, leaving only those in critical roles.
As the freeze takes effect, Kenya now faces a major public health and employment crisis, with thousands left wondering what the future holds.
