In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…
- President William Ruto’s four-day state visit to the U.S. secured multi-trillion shilling deals across various sectors, including trade, health, security, infrastructure, education, and technology, along with significant military aid.
- Kenya will receive a Major Non-NATO Ally designation, 16 U.S.-manufactured helicopters, 150 armoured vehicles, and USD 2 billion in investments from companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Siemens Healthineers.
President William Ruto has returned to Kenya after a four-day state visit to the United States, where he was hosted by President Joe Biden.
Upon his arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Ruto was welcomed by Head of Public Service Felis Koskei, Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki, Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome, Kenya Air Force Commander Major-General Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed, and other officials.
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During his visit, President Ruto secured multi-trillion shilling deals with the U.S. in various sectors, including trade, health, security, infrastructure, education, and technology.
He also obtained funding for these sectors and military aid, with the planned deployment of Kenyan police to Haiti being a significant topic in his discussions with President Biden.
In an interview with CNN, Ruto emphasized the goal of transforming Africa from an opportunity for aid to an investment destination, highlighting the importance of leveraging U.S. technology to create jobs for the youth. The visit also marked the 60th anniversary of the official U.S.-Kenya partnership.
One of the key achievements of the visit was the proposed construction of a Ksh.471 billion, 440-kilometer Nairobi-Mombasa dual carriage expressway, topping a list of significant investments.
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Additionally, Kenya is set to become the first sub-Saharan African nation to receive the Major Non-NATO Ally designation, reflecting its close strategic relationship with the U.S. military and defense sectors.
As part of the military aid package, Kenya will receive 16 U.S.-manufactured helicopters, including 8 Hueys and 8 MD-500s, between late 2024 and summer 2025, enhancing its capacity for regional peace and security operations and peacekeeping missions.
Furthermore, 150 M1117 Armoured Security Vehicles from U.S. Excess Defense Article stocks are expected to arrive in Kenya in September 2024.
The visit also resulted in USD 2 billion worth of deals signed by major companies, including Google, Marathon Digital Holdings, Acorn Holdings Limited, Siemens Healthineers, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Kenyan company M-Kopa, Semiconductors Technologies Limited, and Microsoft.
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