United States President, Joe Biden has welcomed Kenyan President, William Ruto to the White House for a three-day state visit as Kenya prepares to deploy forces to Haiti as part of a U.N.-led effort to address the security crisis in the Caribbean nation.
Over One thousand Kenyan police officers are set to arrive in Haiti soon as part of a multilateral security mission to help curb gang violence. Other countries expected to support the Kenyan forces include the Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Bangladesh.
Kenya – US Partnership
The United States has long partnered with Kenya on counterterrorism efforts in Africa, including combating the extremist group, al-Shabab. Kenya has participated in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and an international maritime task force launched by the Biden administration in response to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
Ruto’s decision to send police forces to Haiti was praised by a top Biden administration official as an “unprecedented undertaking” and a demonstration of global leadership by Kenya. This marks the first state visit by an African nation to the U.S. since 2008. White House principal deputy national security adviser, Jon Finer revealed that “This is a partnership that is deep and broad. He noted that it spans from combating terrorism in Africa to becoming a “net security provider” with the upcoming deployment to Haiti.
The Visit
The state visit began with a White House meeting with CEOs focusing on strengthening ties between the American and Kenyan tech sectors. Executives from Teneo, Alphabet, and Semiconductor Technologies Limited were expected to attend.
First Lady of the United States, Jill Biden greeted Ruto and his wife, Rachel Ruto, upon their arrival at Joint Base Andrews. Biden and Ruto will hold formal talks and a joint news conference on Thursday, followed by a state dinner. On Friday, Ruto is set to participate in an event at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with Vice President, Kamala Harris.
Ruto started his U.S. visit in Atlanta, where he visited The King Center, met NBA legend, Shaquille O’Neal, and toured Tyler Perry Studios.
The U.S. and Kenya are marking the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. The leaders’ agenda includes trade and investment, technological innovation, climate and clean energy, health, and security. Deputy Secretary of State, Kurt Campbell mentioned that substantial commitments to elevate Kenya’s technological sector would be announced. Kenya, known as the Silicon Savannah, hosts offices for Google and Microsoft and has positioned itself as East Africa’s technology hub.
In December 2022, Biden hosted nearly 50 African leaders in Washington to emphasize the U.S. commitment to Africa’s future, promising billions in government funding and private investment in health, infrastructure, business, and technology. Although Biden pledged to visit sub-Saharan Africa in 2023, other priorities, such as the Israel-Hamas war and funding issues for Ukraine, took precedence.
Meanwhile, Russia has sought to expand its influence in Africa, deploying military trainers to Niger. The U.S. has also faced challenges, such as the withdrawal of troops from Niger following a coup. Despite these challenges, Biden and his aides argue that Washington is a more reliable long-term partner for Africa compared to China.
Cameron Hudson, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies Africa Program, noted that Biden has hosted only one African leader, Angola President, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, for talks at the White House since the summit, indicating a need for increased engagement with the continent.
