Kenya will explore alternative solutions if the United States follows through on its decision to stop funding the World Health Organization (WHO), according to State Department for Public Service Principal Secretary Amos Gathecha.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday in Machakos County, Gathecha emphasized that the U.S. has played a significant role as a key donor to the global health agency. “We have not yet known the implications of his (US President Donald Trump) decision because we have been partners. It is something we are thinking about now, and we are still waiting to see because he just signed the executive order, but the world is urging him to stay,” Gathecha stated, according to the Star Kenya.
He acknowledged that Kenya must prepare for the possibility of reduced funding. “We must find ways to help ourselves if the US leaves,” he said, adding that the Global Fund has also been instrumental in supporting Kenya’s healthcare sector.
The U.S. is the WHO’s largest contributor, providing funding through both assessed contributions and voluntary donations. However, President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he may reconsider his decision to leave the WHO, just days after signing an executive order to withdraw from the agency.
"Maybe we would consider doing it again; I don't know. Maybe we would. They would have to clean it up," Trump said during a rally in Las Vegas.
The U.S. is set to officially exit the WHO on January 22, 2026, following Trump’s decision after being sworn in for a second term. The country contributes approximately 18% of the WHO’s total budget, which currently stands at $6.8 billion for 2024-2025.
During his speech, Trump criticized the disparity in contributions between the U.S. and China, arguing that America pays significantly more despite China’s larger population.
