US aid freeze a reminder that Kenya's destiny is in our hands

People protest against US President Donald Trump's decision to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Washington, DC, on February 5, 2025. [AFP]

Many of us are awakening to the reality that we had long taken for granted: The United States aid to Africa. The recent move by the US administration under President Donald Trump to freeze what it deemed non-essential expenditure in Africa and other regions has triggered a wave of shock and disbelief. Thousands of people have suddenly found themselves jobless.

This stark development exposes an underlying fragility that our nations have grown too dependent on external financial support. While we may disagree with the decision's timing or its human impact, we cannot deny that it is the prerogative of the US government to allocate its money as it deems fit.