Prime Cabinet Secretary, Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi, has called on African countries to prioritise self-dependence across various sectors as the United States and Europe gradually scale down their support.
Speaking during a fundraising dinner event organised by the Malindi Educational Development Association (MEDA) at a Malindi hotel over the weekend, Mudavadi highlighted the shifting focus of Western powers, particularly in light of global security concerns.
Mudavadi noted that European nations have significantly reduced their budget allocations for different sectors, redirecting funds towards military expenditures amid changes in NATO’s priorities.
“Europe has reduced budgets from different sectors and increased the budget on weapons,” he remarked. “This shift poses a challenge for African nations that have historically relied on foreign aid in areas such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure,” he said.
The United States, under the Donald Trump administration, has similarly proposed cuts to foreign aid, including a substantial reduction in funding for global health initiatives, raising alarms regarding the future of health programmes across Africa, a continent grappling with numerous challenges in the sector.
“We should take care of our patients. Americans too should take care of their patients,” Mudavadi emphasised, urging nations to shift their focus towards self-reliance.
Mudavadi stressed that the path forward for African countries is clear. “Muslims, Kenyans, and African countries, we should make strategies to depend on ourselves. There are no two ways or three ways; it’s one way. We should make strategies to depend on ourselves,” he added.
Mudavadi’s remarks reflect growing concerns about the diminishing role of traditional global powers in addressing the needs of developing nations.
As African countries continue to navigate a rapidly changing international landscape, Mudavadi’s call for self-sufficiency has sparked a broader conversation about the future of foreign aid and the importance of local resilience in the face of global challenges.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary’s comments resonate with many across the continent, emphasising the urgency of developing sustainable solutions to meet the needs of Africa’s population, regardless of external support.
By Mwadzidze Mtawali and Emmanuel Masha
