By Lauryne Akoth
US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are set to host President William Samoei Ruto in the White House, following his state visit to the United States on May 23rd 2024.
According to President Ruto, the state visit will provide an opportunity for the Kenyan and the US government to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations since Kenya’s independence from colonial rule.
He also stated that it is also a unique opportunity to celebrate the birth of a free, open, democratic sovereign nation.
Sharing on his X page, the president said, “ I look forward to engaging with President Biden on a broad range of matters of mutual interest to our nations, not just in terms of sectors of economic, political and diplomatic spheres of endeavour, but also concerning our shared commitment to the fundamental values which define the strong policy convergence and robust strategic alignment of our enterprises, peoples and governments.”
Kenya perceives the upcoming state visit as a significant opportunity to express a fresh phase of dynamic collaboration between the two governments, focusing on enhancing trade and investment and promoting green energy and climate action.
The visit will also strengthen the advancing digital technology and innovation, prioritizing health and human development, ensuring peace and security, and championing multilateralism and collective efforts.
According to President Ruto, the goal is to achieve shared prosperity not only for Kenya but also for Africa, the Global South, and the world as a whole.
In October 2023, President Biden spoke with President Ruto and whereby the former thanked him for answering Haiti’s call to serve as the lead nation of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission.
They welcomed the successful vote at the United Nations Security Council yesterday authorizing the MSS to bring relief to the people of Haiti, who have suffered for far too long at the hands of violent criminals.
President Biden also congratulated President Ruto for hosting the recently concluded Africa Climate Summit and expressed appreciation for the U.S.-Kenya strategic partnership.
They discussed additional opportunities to promote regional security and mutual prosperity by spurring new investments, jobs, and sustainable growth.