Kenya-US State Visit

On Monday, 20, May, President Ruto arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America for the much-anticipated state visit granted by US President Joe Biden. President Ruto commenced his visit with a visit to the Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta. Next on his itinerary was the King Center where he paid homage to the Civil Rights struggle by Martin Luther King Jr and reflected on the tireless pursuit for a better world.

His third engagement focused on the US Kenya Health Partnership of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) headquarters. Several partnerships were penned. 

Ruto and the First Lady were then hosted by Kenya's Diaspora in Atlanta at the Cobb Galeria Center.

On Tuesday, President Ruto was at Spelman College where he discussed the critical role of higher education, particularly science and technology in enchanting Kenya's human capital development. A pact was signed to enhance student and faculty exchange, joint research and innovation.  

He then visited Tyler Perry Studios where he was hosted by Steve Harvey and explored opportunities within the creative economy.

The president and his entourage then visited the Coca Cola Company Headquarters where Coca Cola unveiled a Sh22. billion investment plan in Kenya. He then went on to launch a 'Made in Kenya' retail fashion brand, Vivo's inaugural store in the US. Lastly, he was hosted by the Mayor of Atlanta and the Atlanta CEOs Council. 

As other African countries drift away from the United States, either disenchanted with democracy or attracted by competing powers, Kenyan President William Ruto arrives in Washington on Wednesday for a three-day state visit meant to highlight a steadfast American ally in Africa.

Over the past year, Africa’s political landscape has been disrupted by numerous military coups, unstable elections, and ongoing conflicts, benefiting American adversaries like Russia and China while undermining Washington's key argument that democracy is effective.

In Niger, a newly established military junta has requested the departure of American troops. Relationships with previously strong American allies such as South Africa and Ethiopia have grown notably strained. In Senegal, a country long seen as a model of stability, a recent election nearly descended into chaos.

The Biden administration sees Mr. Ruto as a remedy for these challenges.

Since assuming office two years ago, the 57-year-old Ruto has strengthened Kenya’s ties with the United States. His visit marks only the sixth state visit hosted by the Biden administration and the first for an African leader since 2008.

In some ways, President Biden is making up for a broken promise. At a prominent Africa summit in Washington in December 2022, Biden declared a commitment to Africa and promised to visit the continent the following year—a trip that never happened.

By inviting Mr. Ruto, the Biden administration signals that it considers the Kenyan president one of its closest security, diplomatic, and economic partners in Africa.

The two nations collaborate closely in combating Al Shabab militants in Somalia. Major American companies like Google have significant operations in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, which also serves as a center for diplomatic efforts to resolve conflicts in neighboring countries such as Sudan, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Soon, Kenya is expected to deploy 1,000 paramilitary police officers to help address unrest in Haiti—a perilous mission primarily funded by the United States and one that poses substantial political risks for Mr. Ruto if Kenyan personnel are harmed.

Mr. Ruto has skillfully secured American backing for his vocal stance on global issues such as debt relief, reforming international financial institutions, and climate change, through which he is striving to establish himself as Africa’s foremost statesman.

Not long ago, Mr. Ruto was seen as part of Kenya's problems. A decade ago, he faced trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC), accused of orchestrating post-election violence that resulted in over 1,100 deaths. At the time, his lawyer was Karim Khan, who is now the court's prosecutor. The United States supported the prosecution, viewing it as an opportunity to end impunity within Kenya's political elite.

However, the trial collapsed in 2016 after witnesses disappeared or altered their testimonies. Meanwhile, Mr. Ruto's political successes overshadowed the trial domestically: he was elected deputy-president in 2013 and 2018, and then president in 2022.

Mr. Ruto also needs this trip to be successful. Since 2022, he has made about 50 foreign trips to garner support for his initiatives, but his popularity at home has plummeted. Confronted with a severe debt crisis—Kenya owes around $77 billion—Mr. Ruto implemented tax hikes, sparking public outcry.

Kenyans refer to him as "Zakayo," after the biblical tax collector Zacchaeus, a nickname that makes him smile. "I have been very candid with the people of Kenya that I cannot continue to borrow money," he said, expressing confidence that he would eventually win over his critics.

Still, time is running short, and Mr. Ruto's primary strategy for revitalizing the economy hinges on capitalizing on green energy. Over 90 percent of Kenya’s energy is derived from renewable sources, primarily wind and geothermal springs. Mr. Ruto aims to leverage this natural advantage to transform Kenya into an industrial powerhouse.

He is encouraging foreign companies to relocate to Kenya, where their products would be carbon neutral. Additionally, he is promoting Kenya as a significant carbon sink, capitalizing on the emerging industry of capturing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it deep within the rock formations of the Rift Valley.

“How do we move Africa from a continent of potential to a continent of opportunity and finally to a continent of investment?” he said. Last month, Microsoft and two other firms announced they were building a 1-gigawatt data center, powered by renewable energy in Naivasha.

Nevertheless, Mr. Ruto's alignment with Washington and advocacy for democracy are not universally popular across Africa. Disillusionment with fraudulent elections and corrupt leaders has fueled support among young people for recent military coups in countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

“There is a perception that democracy hasn’t delivered, that elites which had come to power through elections were not delivering,” said Murithi Mutiga, Africa director at International Crisis Group. Yet, he added, Kenya’s example of stability and steady growth proved that while democracy can be “messy, difficult, noisy and tough,” it still works.

Ruto spent much of Wednesday meeting with members of Congress. 

On Thursday, the focal day of the President's state visit to the United States, Ruto and First Lady Rachel will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. This solemn act is to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by American soldiers as well as commemorate historic figures. 

Following the wreath-laying ceremony, President Ruto will engage in key bilateral meetings with host President Joe Biden, focusing on enhancing the economic, health, and security partnerships between Kenya and the United States. They will also address regional developments in Africa and explore various opportunities for collaboration.

Subsequently, Ruto and Biden will jointly address the media during a press briefing at the White House. President Ruto will also deliver a keynote speech on shared Climate Solutions at the Smithsonian, highlighting global environmental challenges and the collaborative efforts needed to address them.

The day will culminate with a state dinner to honor the visit.

On Friday, President Ruto's itinerary will include a breakfast session at the US Chamber of Commerce, where discussions on economic matters will continue. Additionally, he will participate in a digital roundtable discussion hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris.

President Ruto's visit will conclude with a visit to the Pentagon, emphasizing the strong Kenya-US defense partnership in combating terrorism, extremism, and other emerging threats, including cybersecurity.

This display of pomp and prestige is a significant achievement for a first-term president, despite criticism that he has authoritarian tendencies.

Last year, Mr. Ruto publicly attacked judges whose rulings obstructed his policies, raising concerns that he might steer Kenya towards authoritarianism.

Like other African leaders, he is not hesitant to engage with various foreign powers. To the dismay of the United States, Mr. Ruto hosted President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran, who recently died in a helicopter crash, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei V. Lavrov. In October, Mr. Ruto made a three-day state visit to China.

Mr. Ruto dismissed the notion that he is particularly favored by the West or any other bloc saying that there is nothing wrong with working with different countries, it's all about interests.

Subscribe to Follow our Open Forum Political Talk Show Here: Sound Candid Talk - Youtube