Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has assured that the Kenya-US relationship will remain strong even after President-elect Donald Trump assumes office in January next year.
Mudavadi, who is also Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary, noted that Kenya and the US have enjoyed close ties since 1964.
“Since 1964 up to now how many has the US had? How many have come and go? The relationship between the US and Kenya is not about the sitting president. It is the two countries that have the relationship and not individuals," he said.
He added that many politicians in the US have been elected presidents, finished their terms and paved the way for others.
“Those who are elected to finish their terms and go and other leaders take over. It is about the ties the two countries share not the sitting presidents,” he stated.
Mudavadi made the remarks during the launch of Foreign Affairs Week at Kenya Railways Headquarters.
There have been reports that the US may adjust its policies toward Kenya as Trump returns to the presidency following his historic election victory.
President William Ruto has been a close ally of President Joe Biden since taking office in 2022.
The peak of the relationship was marked by Ruto’s historic four-day state visit to the US in May, celebrating the deepening ties between Kenya and the US.
Biden rolled out a red carpet for Ruto during his official visit.
The visit affirmed the strategic partnership between the two nations, as the leaders discussed key issues including democracy, health partnerships, and people-to-people connections.
Over the years, key areas of collaboration between Kenya and the US have included advancing economic prosperity, defence cooperation, democracy and human rights, refugee support, gender equality, regional stability, multilateral cooperation, public health and climate change.
In July 2020, the US and Kenya initiated trade negotiations, and both sides are currently reviewing the progress before determining the next steps. The Kenyan economy benefits from its participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
