United States Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai, who is in Kenya to enhance economic ties between the two countries has confirmed that she has not met Kenya’s Trade and Industrialisation Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria.
While responding to questions from the press on Wednesday, Ambassador Tai said the Kenyan government should give them answers on why she did not meet Kuria.
“I did not meet with CS Kuria, in terms of why I did not meet with him, I would have to refer you to the Kenyan government,” Tai told members of the fourth estate.
“My visit here is about enhancing, deepening and broadening the US-Kenya relationship in economics as well as the US economic relationship with East Africa,” she further remarked.
The confirmation from the US trade representative follows reports that she did not meet her Kenyan counterpart over his ‘foul mouth’.
The Daily Nation on Wednesday reported that Ambassador Tai raised concerns over Kuria’s unpalatable public remarks and cancelled two scheduled meetings with Kuria to discuss trade ties between Kenya and USA.
Notably, Kenya’s trade CS was conspicuously missing in photos shared by President William Ruto, after holding talks on the Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP) with Ambassador Tai on Wednesday.
“America is our key trade and investment partner. Under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, Kenya has developed its value chains, expanded and diversified its exports, creating thousands of employment opportunities.
We will stretch our ties beyond AGOA — in the wake of advanced technology and climate change — for the full exploitation of our trade potential,” President Ruto wrote in a tweet after meeting the US envoy.
Through public addresses and his social media platforms, Trade CS Moses Kuria has been uttering controversial remarks, targeting the opposition and the press.
