The sudden withdrawal of U.S. aid has plunged Kenya’s informal settlements into a deepening health crisis, leaving vulnerable communities without access to essential care.
CFK Africa, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth and delivering public health services, is now on the front lines of this unfolding disaster.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) froze its spending in January, triggering a chain reaction that has devastated Kenya’s healthcare system. Tens of thousands of workers have been laid off, and long-standing programs aimed at combating diseases like tuberculosis and HIV have ground to a halt.
At CFK Africa’s clinics, the situation is dire. Patients are overwhelming the facilities, anxiously seeking answers about their future care.
“Some are asking if they will die,” said Eddah Ogogo, CFK Africa’s Program Lead for Clinical Services. “They’re requesting longer prescriptions and making contingency plans for a future without treatment.”
The loss of USAID funding has also created chaos within CFK Africa’s operations. Staff are struggling to communicate the uncertainty to patients, while access to critical data has been severely curtailed. Clinics are now inundated with people who previously relied on USAID-funded programs, leaving the organization stretched to the limit.
Jeffrey Okoro, CFK Africa’s Executive Director, highlighted the broader implications of the aid withdrawal. “Aid work is often misunderstood,” he said.
“It’s not just about providing resources—it’s about restoring dignity, easing suffering, and bringing out the best in humanity. These are the things being lost in the current narrative.”
As the situation continues to deteriorate, CFK Africa is calling on the Kenyan government and other NGOs to step in and fill the void left by USAID.
For now, the organization remains steadfast in its mission, even as the road ahead remains fraught with uncertainty.
