The University of Nairobi (UoN) has sent an undisclosed number of Kenyan employees working with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on unpaid leave following a directive by President Donald Trump that has disrupted the US-funded programs globally.
In a notice seen by The Kenya Times, the UoN Faculty of Health Sciences sent all staff working under USAID’s Fahari Ya Jamii (FYJ) project on a three-month unpaid leave starting February 1, 2025.
The faculty explained that the staff will remain on leave as it awaits further review of the Stop Work Order.
The announcement follows the release of an Executive Order titled “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid,” which mandated immediate adjustments to the way US foreign aid is administered.
Statement by UoN Faculty of Health Sciences
Following the 90-day Stop Work Order from the U.S. Government, effective January 24, 2025 (which information is now in public domain), FYJ management has sought clarification from USAID KEA.
Further to this and to ensure compliance with this directive, all FYJ staff, including those supported through FYJ subawards, will proceed on a three-month unpaid leave starting February 1, 2025, as we await further review of the Stop Work Order.
We will provide updates and guidance on the next steps as soon as we receive further information from the funding agency.
On their part, the USAID Nuru Ya Mtoto Project staff have also been informed that all the project implementation activities have ceased effective Friday January 24, 2025, until further notice.
USAID directed staff to avoid engaging in any activities that may warrant reimbursements including PNS, home visits, roving to sites, review meetings, data collection, among others.
The directives come after thousands of USAID Kenya employees were sent home abruptly and leaving them facing the reality of not receiving their January salaries.
USAID employees sent home
According to an anonymous source who spoke to The Kenya Times, USAID operations have been paralyzed and salaries that had not been processed by the issuing of the January 24 notice may not be released.
The development came after USAID Senior Procurement Executive Jimi J. Rodgers issued a directive halting ongoing work on various of the agency’s initiatives.
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The directive, he said, applies to all program accounts classified as Title III. These are programs that require funding but exclude Operating Expenses.
Also, the Capital Investment Fund Account under Title II would be affected.
According to the notice from the USAID Industry Liaison, the directive required Contracting and Agreement Officers to immediately issue stop-work orders, and amend, or suspend existing awards, to ensure compliance with the terms of the new policy.
Implementing partners across Kenya and East Africa were consequently informed that their organizations will soon receive stop-work or suspension notices from the USAID/Kenya and East Africa Office of Acquisition and Assistance.
“In accordance with the President’s Executive Order on Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid and additional direction provided by the Department of State,” read part of the notice.
“USAID is pausing all new obligations of funding, and sub-obligations of funding under Development Objective Agreements (DOAGs), pending a review of foreign assistance programs funded by USAID.”
Stop-Work orders
Moreover, USAID Contracting and Agreement Officers were required to immediately issue stop-work orders.
Also, they have been directed to amend or suspend current awards and withhold modifications, extensions, or renewals unless expressly authorized.
This pause impacted all funding instruments, including grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts, while also suspending new funding opportunities.
Additionally, the notice imposed a freeze on issuing new awards, requests for proposals (RFPs), applications (RFAs), or Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs).
These activities, USAID said, would remain suspended until reviewed and approved by the administration.
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