GLOBAL - Britain's Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, has announced a series of contentious policy proposals aimed at addressing a perceived budget deficit, including a drastic 90% reduction in overseas aid. This move, if implemented, could have profound implications for Kenya and the wider East Africa region, which have historically been significant recipients of UK development and humanitarian assistance.

The proposals were unveiled on Monday, 17th November 2025, ahead of a press conference scheduled for Tuesday. Reform UK claims its measures would save £25 billion annually, targeting what it calls a 'black hole' in the budget overseen by UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The Labour party has dismissed these claims, stating the "fantasy numbers don’t add up."

At the core of the proposal is a plan to cap the UK's foreign aid budget at a maximum of £1 billion per year. This represents a steep drop from the current spending level of 0.3% of Gross National Income (GNI). According to a House of Commons Library briefing from October 2025, the UK government had already planned to reduce aid spending from 0.5% to 0.3% of GNI by 2027 to fund increased defence spending. Reform's proposal would accelerate and deepen these cuts significantly.

IMPLICATIONS FOR KENYA

The United Kingdom is one of Kenya's top ten bilateral development partners. In the 2023-2024 financial year, Kenya was allocated a bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget of £24.6 million, with an indicative allocation of £81 million for 2024-2025, according to a July 2023 UK government summary. A November 2025 report by Chatham House noted that bilateral aid to Kenya had already been reduced by 20.8% for the 2025/26 fiscal year. A 90% cut to the UK's global aid budget would almost certainly lead to a severe reduction or complete termination of numerous programs in Kenya.

UK aid in Kenya has historically supported a wide range of sectors, including humanitarian assistance, governance, security, women and girls' empowerment, and private sector investment. For instance, the PAMOJA program (2018-2023), with a budget of £51.6 million, provided support to refugees and host communities. Such drastic cuts could jeopardize ongoing projects and undermine long-term development goals, potentially increasing instability and poverty. Analysts warn that a retreat from international development by major donors like the UK could cripple key governance and human rights institutions that rely on this funding.

BROADER POLICY SHIFT

The proposed aid reduction is part of a broader package of measures targeting non-UK citizens. Reform UK also intends to block all overseas nationals, including those from the European Union with settled status, from receiving Universal Credit, a social security payment. This move would violate the terms of the post-Brexit trade deal with the EU, which protects the rights of EU citizens living in the UK to access public services and some benefits. The party acknowledges this could risk retaliatory measures from Brussels, potentially sparking a trade war.

Additionally, the party proposes nearly tripling the National Health Service (NHS) surcharge for non-UK residents, from £1,035 to £2,718 per year, a move they claim would raise £5 billion. The surcharge was already increased to £1,035 on 6th February 2024.

These policies are framed by Reform UK as a strategy to prioritize British citizens and compel foreign nationals to bear the cost of fixing the UK's public finances. Zia Yusuf, Reform's head of policy, stated that the choice is between raising taxes on British citizens or enacting their proposals.

The proposals have been met with skepticism. The Labour Party has criticized the financial basis of the plan, while organizations working in international development have previously warned that aid cuts damage the UK's global reputation and harm the world's most marginalized communities. As the UK political landscape continues to evolve, the future of its role as a leading development partner hangs in the balance, with potentially severe consequences for countries like Kenya. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.