Anglican Church of Kenya Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit has described the recent decision by the United States to freeze foreign aid as a wake-up call for Kenyan leaders. Speaking at the launch of the Centre for Anglican Women’s Leadership and Research in Africa (CAWLRA) at St. Paul’s University in Limuru, Archbishop Sapit encouraged both citizens and leaders to rethink their approach to the country’s economic challenges in light of the crisis brought about by the freeze.
Sapit, reflecting on former US President Donald Trump’s disruption of global aid systems, expressed gratitude for the discomfort caused, noting that it could spur deeper reflection on Kenya’s dependency on foreign aid. “Let us be disrupted so that we can think properly,” he stated, emphasizing that every economy grows during difficult times. This disruption, he argued, presents an opportunity for Kenya to explore self-sustainability and to better manage its resources.
The Archbishop highlighted the critical issue of mismanagement of public resources, particularly pointing out the rampant greed among leaders. He called for an end to corruption, stressing that leaders should focus on empowering citizens rather than hoarding resources for personal gain. “The biggest problem to our development is greed, particularly to us leaders,” Sapit remarked. He underscored the need for Kenyan leaders to foster unity, tackle tribalism, and focus on developing the country’s potential, especially in agriculture, where Kenya’s favorable climate offers an opportunity for food security.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s recent remarks mirrored those of Archbishop Sapit, urging African nations to carefully manage their resources and reduce their reliance on foreign aid. Kenyatta’s message to African leaders was clear: it is time to look inward and explore how nations can take charge of their own development.
On the same day Sapit made these remarks, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a drastic policy shift, placing all its staff on administrative leave, with its personnel being recalled from international assignments. The freeze, which directly affects over 35,000 employees working on USAID-funded programs in Kenya, signals the significant repercussions of Trump’s policies on global humanitarian aid.
With this development, Archbishop Sapit’s call for self-reliance resonates louder than ever. He urges Kenya to seize this moment to rethink its economic strategy, relying less on external assistance and focusing more on sustainable, homegrown solutions to its pressing challenges.
