President William Ruto and United States President Joe Biden on Thursday, unveiled a series of new investment deals worth billions of shillings in Kenya, celebrating 60 years of bilateral partnership.
The investment agreements, announced on the concluding day of President Ruto’s four-day State visit to the United States, primarily target sectors such as green energy, security, education, and governance.
Dr Ruto’s visit marks the first State Visit by an African leader to Washington in 16 years, following John Kufuor of Ghana in 2008.
Speaking of the State Visit, the White House said in a fact sheet on Thursday:
“Decades of strong security cooperation between the United States and Kenya have played a critical role in East Africa and beyond.”
“This partnership extends to areas including international peacekeeping, peace negotiations, security governance, refugee inclusion, and cooperation in cybersecurity.”
During the State Visit to the United States, a series of multibillion-shilling investment deals were announced, strengthening the partnership between Washington and Nairobi, particularly in combating terrorist groups in East Africa.
President Joe Biden is set to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally, a move that reflects its cooperation with US counterterrorism efforts.
The United States, among other commitments, pledged $4.9 million ((Sh642 million) to enhance cooperation in fighting international criminal networks and improve the Kenyan police and justice sectors.
Additionally, a $7 million (Sh917 million) partnership aims to modernise and professionalise Kenya’s National Police Service, and a $2.2 million (Sh288 million) initiative will focus on prison reform.
To address corruption, the US will provide $1.55 million (about Sh203 million) for anti-corruption programmes, including support for the proposed Whistleblower Protection law and enhancing fiscal transparency.
Dr Ruto’s visit also resulted in $2.6 million (Sh340.6 million) in support for civil society groups, including youth empowerment and disability inclusion programmes.
The US will invest $3.6 million to boost Kenya’s clean energy infrastructure and has committed to significant projects such as the $3.6 billion Usahihi Expressway and a $250 million affordable housing initiative.
These developments highlight Kenya’s growing status as a key US ally in Africa, especially amid global geopolitical tensions.