Kenya gets $20 million from World’s richest investor after Trump’s grant cuts

Key Points

• Warren Buffett’s foundation will donate Ksh3.8 billion ($20 million) to support Kenya’s public health sector amid a sharp drop in foreign aid.
• Kenya’s Treasury included Buffett’s $20 million grant in the 2025/26 budget, with funds directed to the State Department of Medical Services.
• Buffett’s donation comes as he announces plans to step down as Berkshire Hathaway CEO after six decades, recommending Greg Abel as his successor.

Warren Buffett, the world’s richest investor, will provide the Kenyan government with a grant of Ksh3.8 billion ($20 million) through his charitable organization, The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation. The donation, part of the external funding for Kenya’s 2025/26 budget, marks another significant philanthropic effort by the 94-year-old billionaire.

The grant is a welcome boost for Kenya’s struggling public health sector, which has been under pressure following a sharp drop in foreign aid. Funding cuts began under former U.S. President Donald Trump, who reduced donations and froze contributions to agencies like the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Kenya’s National Treasury included the $20 million donation in its latest budget estimates for the financial year starting in July. The funds will go directly to the State Department of Medical Services to help improve healthcare delivery across the country.

Buffett to step down after six decades at the helm of Berkshire Hathaway

The news of Warren Buffett’s donation comes just days after he made headlines at the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 3. There, he announced that he would be stepping down as CEO by the end of the year, recommending longtime deputy Greg Abel as his successor. It marks the end of an era for Buffett, who spent six decades building Berkshire Hathaway into a $1.1 trillion powerhouse.

Under Buffet, Berkshire Hathaway’s stock skyrocketed by an incredible 5,502,284 percent between 1965 and the end of 2024, a run that dwarfed the S&P 500’s 39,054 percent return over the same period. But Buffett became known for more than just his record-breaking returns. Over the years, he built a reputation for fairness, humility, and always putting people first.

Today, Buffett’s net worth stands at $159.7 billion, making him the fifth-richest person in the world, according to Forbes. His fortune has continued to grow this year, even as many other billionaires have seen their wealth shrink due to market turmoil. Yet Buffett’s influence goes far beyond the stock market — he’s widely respected not just for his financial acumen, but for his commitment to giving back.

Buffett’s Kenya donation reflects lifelong mission

As Berkshire’s chairman and largest shareholder, Buffett oversaw a company that delivered a 19.8 percent compounded annual gain in market value across nearly six decades. Berkshire’s portfolio includes household names like Geico, Dairy Queen, Clayton Homes, Coca-Cola, and American Express.

Philanthropy has always been a big part of Buffett’s story. Between 2006 and 2021, he served as a trustee of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, working closely with Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates to tackle some of the world’s toughest problems. By 2022, Buffett had donated roughly $36 billion to the foundation, based on the value of the shares when they were given.

His latest donation to Kenya is a fresh reminder of his deep belief in using wealth to make a real difference, a mission he’s staying true to, even as he prepares to hand over the reins at Berkshire Hathaway.