East Africa recently emerged as a leader in the Western Hemisphere in regard to political triumphs, trade and trial agreements with countries like the United States and United Kingdom. 

In the first state visit from African leaders in over 16 years, this week, Kenyan President William Ruto will partake in a historic visit to America to build on international alliances through meetings with President Joe Biden and congressional delegations. 

“His remarks here will underline the importance of democracies working collaboratively to tackle global challenges,” State House Spokesman Hussein Mohamed shared.

Ruto’s first stop will be at Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta. From there, he will meet with renowned film director Tyler Perry on Tuesday to explore economic expansion and a small congressional delegation on Wednesday. 

Ruto has served as President of Kenya for the past decade and has worked to build on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which promotes duty-free trade with 32 sub-Saharan African countries. The agreement was approved by Congress in 2000 and was updated in 2015 to extend the contract into 2025. The African delegation comes prepared to put new projects on the table. 

“We have prepared more than 30 bankable projects worth over $20.5 billion to interest American investors and the Kenyan diaspora,” Kenyan Trade Minister Rebecca Miano shared last week. 

Kenya has been pushing for its own free trade agreement with the United States since 2020 but no official legislation has been signed. 

Ruto, 57, who’s been leading the nation for the past decade, saw his visit as a chance to address any concerns with elected officials across the nation but was denied the opportunity to speak with members of Congress by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-4). 

The last African head to address the legislature was in 2006. Former Liberian Head of State, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was given the honor. 

Statistics show the nation has been actively building their trade relationship with the United States. 

According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the U.S. imported $875 million worth of goods from Kenya in 2022, up 27.7% ($189 million) from 2021, and up 125% from 2012.

Yet, U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in Kenyan stock has fallen. It was $277 million in 2022, a 9.5% decrease from 2021.

President Joe Biden and Ruto will have a chance to discuss future opportunities and strengthening an alliance with the country during the state arrival ceremony and dinner on Thursday, May 23. The two will participate in bilateral meetings and deliver remarks at a joint press conference. This comes after Biden failed to make good on his promise to visit Africa in 2023.

Ashleigh Fields is an award-winning journalist specializing in coverage of lawmakers in the White House and Capitol Hill. Her reporting has earned recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists,...

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