Mombasa – Former president Uhuru Kenyatta has urged African nations to take charge of their own health security and economic future, emphasising the need for self-reliance instead of depending on foreign aid.
Speaking at the inaugural East Africa Region Global Health Security Summit (EARGHSS 2025) at the PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort Convention Centre on Wednesday, January 29, Uhuru stressed that Africa must re-prioritise its resources to address pressing health challenges and other critical issues.
Uhuru blasted those lamenting the withdrawal of funding by US president Donald Trump, stating that the US government has no obligation to support Africa.
“I saw some people the other day crying that Trump has withdrawn funding. Why are you crying? It is neither your government, nor your country. He has no reason to give you anything. You don’t pay taxes in America. He is appealing to his people,” he said.
He further urged Africans to see this as a wake-up call to take responsibility for their development rather than expecting continuous financial support from foreign nations.
“Nobody is going to continue holding out a hand to give you. Whether we like it or not, funding for pandemics must come from ourselves. We need to re-prioritise what is important for us as Africans and allocate resources accordingly,” Uhuru emphasised.
The retired president warned that in the event of future pandemics, developed countries would prioritise their populations before considering aid to Africa.
He urged African leaders to invest in strong health systems and vaccine production to avoid dependency on external support.
“As Africans, we should not wait for others to come to our rescue. We must be prepared for future health challenges because, in times of crisis, developed nations will first take care of their people before supplying vaccines to third-world countries,” he noted.
“It is time for us to start using our resources for the right things. Instead, we misuse them for the wrong things. The bullets and guns we buy are used against our people—brother killing sister and vice versa over senseless reasons,” he lamented.
He called on African nations to invest in sectors that promote stability and development rather than fuelling internal conflicts.
The health summit, which brought together key stakeholders, provided a platform to discuss pressing health security challenges in East Africa and explore sustainable solutions to strengthen regional health systems.
