The South African-born businessman and conservative political figure was appointed to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by President Trump
Elon Musk on Friday, January 31 responded to Kenya’s former President, Uhuru Kenyatta, who rebuked those complaining about the Executive Order by United States (US) President, Donald Trump to suspend U.S. foreign aid for 90 days.
Musk, an American billionaire who is one of the most instrumental figures in the Trump administration, took to X, a platform he owns, and said, “Good for him.” He was reacting to a video posted on the platform of Uhuru’s remarks.
The South African-born businessman and conservative political figure was appointed to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by President Trump, which will implement the President’s DOGE Agenda, by modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.
US President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders on January 20, 2025. /AP
“The U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization shall be headed by the USDS Administrator and shall be dedicated to advancing the President’s 18-month DOGE agenda. The U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization shall terminate on July 4, 2026. The termination of the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization shall not be interpreted to imply the termination, attenuation, or amendment of any other authority or provision of this order,” reads part of the Executive Order that ratified the appointment on January 20, 2025.
Uhuru, who was giving his keynote address at the inaugural East Africa Region Global Health Security Summit (EARGHSS 2025) at the PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort Convention Centre in Mombasa on Wednesday, January 29, jokingly termed the leaders as ‘crybabies’ and reminded them of the importance of utilising the foreign funds they receive.
The 4th President went on to urge the African leaders to, for once, come up with other ways of securing funds for critical programmes without having to rely on the US.
“I saw some people the other day crying that Trump has removed funding. It is not your government, it’s not your country. He has no reason to give you anything. You don’t pay taxes in America. He is appealing to his people. This is a wake-up call for you to say ‘okay, what are we going to do for ourselves’,” he said.
The president urged African leaders to be self-reliant by ensuring they address the challenges they face, enabling them to free up resources for areas where they are most needed.
He went on to add that African leaders have been spending the resources they have on the wrong things, including funding unnecessary wars and fights.
“Nobody is going to continue holding a hand out there to give you (money). It is time for us to use our resources for the right things. We are the ones using them for the wrong things. The bullets and the guns we buy we are not given for free. We buy them. And we are not buying them to go and fight wars off our shores. We are fighting our own people. Brother killing sister, sister killing brother over stupid things,” he added.
Immediately after being sworn into office, Trump ordered a three-month pause on almost all foreign development assistance pending a review to see what fits in with the president’s “America First” policy.
VOA reported that in the 2023 fiscal year, the US spent just short of $70 billion on development aid, most of it through the US Agency for International Development, or USAID.
Within hours of taking office last week, President Donald Trump put all but the most urgently needed food assistance on hold, part of his charge to realign the nation’s foreign stance with his America First policy. His executive order paused new obligations and disbursements of development assistance funds for 90 days while they are reviewed.
In response, Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Korir Sing’Oei lamented that the move, captured in an Executive Order, could frustrate development in critical areas such as health. He urged Trump’s government to develop new strategies to support vulnerable populations in countries like Kenya, which face significant risks in light of the recent developments.
This abrupt halt disrupted various international programmes resulting in a panic in the country, with the government forced to clarify programmes like the giving of ARVs.
“Our excitement when we watched CNN, and BBC celebrate new vaccines being rolled out, but none was coming to us. For any future pandemic, don’t think they’ll prioritise us, they give you the surplus, at times for free since they have sorted themselves first,” Uhuru fired a reminder to the complaining leaders.
I have seen people crying that Trump is no longer giving them money; why are you crying? It’s not your money- Uhuru Kenyatta#ViralVideos pic.twitter.com/N2TdqMz7sp
— Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) January 29, 2025