Kenya President’s Three-day State Visit To The United States: What Is In Jeopardy?

Prior to a state visit to Washington, USA, Kenya’s President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto arrived in Kenyan Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, May 20.

Kenya’s diplomatic relationship with the United States began with the visit to Atlanta.

At Atlanta’s Carter Presidential Library and Museum, President Ruto gave a speech on democratic values and governance. welcome President Ruto’s engagements with civic leaders on issues of democratic governance while in Atlanta, as well as his focus on our people-to-people ties, public health partnerships, educational exchanges, investments in shared prosperity, and his engagements with Atlanta’s African Diaspora,” Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, said.

Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, stated earlier this year that the visit “will strengthen [the countries] shared commitment to advance peace and security, expand our economic ties, and stand together in defence of democratic values.”

Ruto and Biden are scheduled to “discuss ways to bolster cooperation in areas including people-to-people ties, trade and investment, technological innovation, climate and clean energy, health, and security.”
Kenyan leaders had previously visited states in 1980 and 2003.

According to a Pew Research Centre analysis of the 2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS), Kenya was one of the top 10 countries of origin for Black immigrants to the US.