Government prioritizes Sudan over Kenyans, donates millions amid local economic crisis

Kenya’s decision to commit KSh 259 million ($2 million) to humanitarian efforts in Sudan raises serious concerns, especially given the dire economic conditions Kenyans are facing.

At a time when citizens are struggling with high taxation, skyrocketing food prices, and worsening unemployment, the government’s choice to send millions abroad instead of addressing local suffering seems out of touch with reality.

While the need for regional peace is undeniable, it is questionable whether Kenya should prioritize Sudan’s crisis over its own internal struggles.

Musalia Mudavadi, the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS, has framed the move as part of Kenya’s role in promoting peace and stability in Africa.

However, this decision comes just a day after Sudan accused Kenya of hosting Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rebels to allegedly establish a parallel government.

This accusation places Kenya in a precarious diplomatic position, raising doubts about its impartiality in the Sudanese conflict.

How can Kenya claim to be a peace facilitator while being accused of interfering in Sudan’s internal affairs?

If Sudan sees Kenya as biased, then Mudavadi’s statement about being at the “forefront of seeking solutions” sounds more like an empty diplomatic gesture than a meaningful contribution.

Beyond diplomatic concerns, the economic reality in Kenya makes this donation highly questionable.

Kenyans are currently bearing the brunt of heavy taxation under the Finance Act 2023, which has increased levies on essential goods and services.

Many households are struggling to afford basic commodities like maize flour, electricity, and fuel.

The cost of living crisis has pushed many small businesses to the brink of collapse, with job losses becoming the norm rather than the exception.

In such a climate, the government’s decision to send a quarter of a billion shillings abroad instead of using it to cushion suffering Kenyans appears both reckless and insensitive.

Furthermore, Kenya’s healthcare and education sectors are in crisis. Public hospitals are facing shortages of essential medicines, understaffing, and delayed salaries for health workers.

University students are grappling with a flawed new funding model that leaves many unable to continue their education. The same government that claims to lack funds for key public services is now able to find millions to send abroad.

This raises the question, where do the government’s priorities lie? Is it more important to gain international recognition than to ensure that Kenyan citizens can afford food, healthcare, and education?

The situation also highlights the hypocrisy of Kenya’s leadership. While Mudavadi speaks about Kenya’s role in alleviating suffering in Sudan, his government has failed to address similar crises at home.

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) from past election violence still live in poverty, waiting for compensation that has never arrived.

In Northern Kenya, communities affected by drought and insecurity continue to suffer without sufficient government intervention.

Why is it that the government is quick to pledge funds for a foreign crisis while ignoring the suffering within its own borders?

Moreover, Kenya’s track record in foreign aid and peace missions has not always yielded tangible results.

Previous engagements in Somalia and South Sudan have been met with mixed reactions, sometimes even backfiring diplomatically.

If Kenya truly wants to be seen as a leader in African stability, it should start by stabilizing its own economy and ensuring that its people do not go hungry.

Without economic strength at home, any foreign aid efforts risk appearing as mere public relations exercises rather than genuine contributions to peace.

The timing of this donation also raises suspicions. With the government facing increasing criticism over corruption and economic mismanagement, is this just another distraction tactic?

Kenyans have witnessed numerous instances where public funds meant for development mysteriously disappear.

Without clear accountability measures, there is no guarantee that the KSh 259 million will even reach the intended beneficiaries in Sudan.

Will this money actually help Sudanese civilians, or will it end up lining the pockets of corrupt intermediaries? Given Kenya’s history of financial scandals, such questions are not far-fetched.

Ultimately, while peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts are noble causes, they should not come at the expense of a struggling population.

If the government can afford to donate KSh 259 million to Sudan, then it should also be able to allocate similar amounts to reduce the cost of living, improve healthcare, and fund education.

Until Kenya’s leaders prioritize their own citizens, any claims of being a “peace enabler” will remain hollow words with no real substance.