President William Ruto has scheduled three meetings with officials from the United States Congress.
Ambassador Meg Whitman disclosed that Ruto’s agenda includes a lunch meeting with members of Congress, followed by discussions with the congressional leadership. Additionally, he will hold a separate meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus.
Whitman emphasized the significance of these engagements in fostering bilateral relations between the two countries, particularly within the framework of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
“He will have 3 quite good congressional engagements, he’ll have a lunch with members of Congress, he’ll have a leadership meeting with members of Congress and will also meet with the Congressional Black Caucus, which is a very important constituent for things like AGOA and other things,” the US Ambassador said on Wednesday.
“So, he’ll have a good afternoon of Congressional engagement.”
The United States ranks among Kenya’s largest trading partners, and Kenya stands out as one of Africa’s most vibrant economies, with a remarkable utilization rate of the US market access provided under AGOA.
The upcoming trip is a collaborative effort organized by the United States Government, the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the US Embassy in Nairobi.
These meetings follow closely after Speaker Mike Johnson declined a request from the House of Congress Foreign Affairs committee for President William Ruto to address a joint session during his official visit to the United States. The decision was primarily attributed to scheduling constraints.
Had the invitation been extended, Ruto would have been the first Kenyan President to address a joint session of Congress and only the second African head of state to do so since former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, 18 years ago.
In commemorating the 60th anniversary of US-Kenya diplomatic relations, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are set to host Ruto and First Lady Rachel for a state visit on May 23.
