Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on Thursday held talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington.
Mudavadi who is also Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs said the talks with Blinken centred on peace and security issues.
In a post on his official X account, Mudavadi said they also discussed regional conflicts in East Africa and the disruption of global logistics by the Middle East crisis.
“I held a constructive meeting with US Secretary of State Mr Tony Blinken on peace and security issues, including regional conflicts in East Africa and disruption of global logistics by the Middle East crisis" Mudavadi said.
Kenya is seen as an anchor state in Africa because of geopolitical and geo-economics imperatives.
"We appreciate Kenya’s longstanding role in ensuring international peace and security,” Blinken said.
The Prime CS is on a three-day official visit to the United States.
Mudavadi said Blinken responded positively to Nairobi's request for expedited negotiations of the Kenya-US Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership.
“Our engagement in Washington DC focused on Kenya and US mediation efforts to mitigate the disruptive impact of these crises on the people and economies of the region,” Mudavadi said.
He also said Washington was positive about the request for the US to consider extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act beyond its expiry next year.
“These initiatives will facilitate expanded duty and quota-free access for Kenya’s and Africa’s exports to the US market,” he said.
The Prime CS said the meeting appreciated the two countries' long-standing support for global climate issues, the fight against terrorism and the need for global development finance architecture reforms.
Kenya and the US have solidified their commitment to bolstering bilateral trade and investment with the focus being collaboration on agriculture, regulatory practices, and workers' rights.
This emerged this week in Nairobi during a meeting of negotiating teams representing Kenya and the US in the Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership.
Led by Trade Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano and US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman, they convened with Mudavadi to discuss the progress.
Both sides highlighted their commitment to advancing the mutual prosperity, security, human rights, and democratic values between the two countries.
"Our goal is to foster economic prosperity, ensure security, protect human rights, and uphold democratic principles,” Miano said.
The ongoing negotiations signify Kenya and the US's dedication to building a strategic alliance that addresses societal well-being comprehensively.
Mudavadi’s trip to the US comes after another successful trip to China where he has been proactively running with President Ruto’s economic diplomacy agenda.
Mudavadi is on a strategic global tour to promote Kenya as an FDI destination, create markets for Kenyan goods and services besides creating opportunities for Kenyan human capital across the world.
President Ruto mandated Mudavadi to work with the National Treasury, trade, labour and agriculture to create wealth and employment opportunities using economic diplomacy.