US-Kenya partnership remains strong despite USAID phase-out, US official says

United States Chargé d'Affaires Marc Dillard has assured Kenya that support for key programmes previously implemented under the now-defunct USAID will continue, affirming that Kenya remains one of the US's largest bilateral assistance partners.

Speaking during an event to mark the 249th Anniversary of the Independence of the United States in Nairobi, Dillard said the embassy has realigned its programmes with Washington’s core foreign policy objectives, focusing on life-saving assistance.

“In health, our PEPFAR and HIV programmes - which provide diagnosis, antiretroviral medication, and prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV - continue to make a difference in Kenya. We have ongoing health programmes that provide care to those in serious need around the Kakuma refugee camp and nearby settlements,” he said.

He emphasised that although the format of assistance may have changed, the partnership and the impact it has on people's lives remain strong.

“I’d like you to take away that, despite the impression one might draw from some media reports, the United States remains Kenya’s largest bilateral assistance partner. From life-saving initiatives like those I’ve just mentioned to investment-led growth in the creative economy, to the bolstering of safety and security and joint training programmes, the partnership endures,” he added.

He further noted that the US remains a key security partner to Kenya through training programmes such as the recently concluded Justified Accord military exercise held in Nanyuki, as well as Counter Terrorism training, among others.

“Our defence partnership with Kenya has never been stronger. Together, we train peacekeepers, respond to threats, and invest in regional stability,” he said.

The US government formally transferred its active development and humanitarian work from USAID to the State Department on Wednesday, July 1. The shift is aimed at better serving American interests.

In a press briefing, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told journalists that the reorganisation does not signal the end of US foreign aid.

“A great deal of aid remains. Some have been suspended or cut entirely. The restructuring aligns with the President’s executive order to reform the government and save money,” she said in Washington.

Bruce added that the realignment would bring more transparency and reduce bureaucracy in the use of donated funds.

“Foreign assistance for each region will now fall under the bureau responsible for that region, rather than being handled by a massive bureaucracy, some of which wasn’t even housed in our building, that operated without close input from regional experts. It will be more efficient, more effective. We are not ending foreign aid. We are making it more nimble. We are operating at the speed of relevance to ensure that the millions and billions of dollars we spend on aid reach the people they are intended to help,” she said.

Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr Korir Sing’oei, reaffirmed the longstanding partnership between the two nations, noting its importance in promoting regional security, trade, democracy, governance, and people-to-people cooperation.

“We have partnered in defence, and your support, particularly in counter-terrorism, is something we celebrate. Our resilience in responding to terrorism today is largely due to the support of the United States of America,” said Dr Sing’oei.

The event was attended by diplomats, senior government officials, Vice Chief of Defence Forces Lt Gen John Omenda, Director of Public Prosecutions Nelson Ingonga, opposition figures, civil society members, celebrities, and other key figures.

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