Severe disruptions are being felt in Kenyan communities served by CFK Africa, an international nonprofit organisation, after the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) abruptly halted funding.
The organisation, which focuses on empowering youth in informal settlements through public health and leadership programs, has reported significant challenges following the U.S. government’s freeze on USAID spending in January.
The funding cuts stem from a broader effort by the Trump administration to downsize USAID, spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. As part of this restructuring, the administration placed nearly all USAID personnel—except for senior leadership and critical staff—on paid administrative leave and eliminated 1,600 U.S.-based positions.
A federal judge cleared the way for these mass layoffs on Friday, dealing a major blow to USAID operations worldwide. The administration justified the cuts as a necessary budget reduction, reallocating funds toward domestic priorities while significantly reducing foreign aid expenditures.
While exceptions have been made for security and counter-narcotics programs, humanitarian and public health initiatives have received minimal exemptions, with USAID’s total program funding shrinking from $40 billion annually to less than $100 million.
As a result of the funding cut, tens of thousands of Kenyans were notified that they would be laid off from jobs tied to U.S. grants, leading to widespread concerns about the continuity of essential health services. The impact has been especially acute in efforts to curb the spread of diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV.
“Some patients are now coming into our healthcare clinics asking us if they are going to die,” said Eddah Ogogo, CFK Africa’s Program Lead for Clinical Services. “They are asking for longer refills for prescription drugs and making plans for what might happen if they cannot continue to get care.”
The loss of USAID funding has left CFK Africa’s HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis clinics in uncertainty. The nonprofit’s staff is unclear on how to advise patients, and access to critical health data has been limited. Compounding the situation, CFK Africa has seen an increase in patients, many of whom previously relied on USAID-funded care from other organisations that are no longer operational.
CFK Africa Executive Director Jeffrey Okoro described the situation as chaotic, with healthcare workers and community members alike struggling to navigate the fallout of the funding freeze. “There is a lot of misunderstanding on what aid or development work is,” Okoro said.
“To me, it restores dignity, brings out the best in humanity, and lessens suffering, and I think that is missed from a lot of the current news stories on the pullback of aid.”
The sudden funding cut has disrupted Kenya’s healthcare infrastructure, which relied heavily on USAID support. CFK Africa officials are now calling for discussions with the Kenyan government and other NGOs to explore how essential healthcare services can be maintained in the absence of U.S. funding.
For now, CFK Africa remains focused on its mission of serving communities in Kenya despite the uncertainty ahead. “At CFK Africa, our communities come first,” Okoro affirmed, emphasising that the organisation is turning to partners and reassuring patients as they navigate this challenging period.
About CFK Africa
Founded in 2001, CFK Africa works to empower youth by improving public health and economic prosperity in informal settlements in Kenya through health and leadership initiatives. After marking 20 years of service in Kibera in 2021, CFK expanded to 25 informal settlements across eight counties in Kenya. More information is available at www.cfkafrica.org.