KENYA’s President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, USA on Monday (May. 20) ahead of a state visit to Washington.
The visit to Atlanta is the first segment of Kenya’s diplomatic engagement with the United States.
President Ruto delivered a speech on governance and democratic values at the Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta.
“I 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,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
Ruto will be hosted by US president Joe Biden in Washington, D.C. on May 23.
Earlier this year, the White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the visit “will strengthen [the countries] shared commitment to advance peace and security, expand our economic ties, and stand together in defense of democratic values.”
Ruto and Biden are set 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.”
Previous states by Kenyan leader visits were made in 1980 and 2003.
Kenya was among the top 10 countries of origin for Black immigrants to the US according to a Pew Research Center analysis of the 2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).
Kenya is a key US ally in eastern Africa. The two nations have a relatively strong military cooperation.
Last year, Kenya’s Defense Minister Aden Duale and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin signed an agreement that guides the countries’ defense relations for the next five years as the war in East Africa against the al-Qaeda linked al-Shabab extremist group intensifies.
The United States put forward a U.N. Security Council resolution that authorized Kenya to lead a multinational police force to help combat gangs in Haiti that control much of the capital.
