The US has pledged Sh203 million donation to Kenya to help boost the government’s anti-corruption efforts as the countries’ heads of state met on Thursday to celebrate and deepen ties between the two nations.
A fact sheet from the White House said President William Ruto who is on a state visit to the United States would be hosted for dinner by his host President Joe Biden.
“This visit marks 60 years of official US-Kenya partnership. This partnership is founded on shared values, deep cooperation, and a common vision for the future,” the dispatch reads in part.
As part of enhancing the bilateral ties, the White House said the US government intends to provide one million dollars (Sh131m) to strengthen anti-corruption processes.
The Biden administration said $500 (Sh65.5m) will go into a new Fiscal Integrity Program to make county budget processes more transparent and inclusive and increase citizen engagement.
A similar amount, it said, will go into broadening the reach and effectiveness of anti-corruption advocacy by empowering civil society actors to create and disseminate multimedia content that engages citizens and mobilises action against corruption.
Another $550 (Sh72m) will go towards supporting Kenya's anti-corruption legal processes including witness protection.
“To support the Government of Kenya to combat corruption, the Administration is providing $250,000 (Sh32.75m) through the Global Accountability Program, and $300,000 (Sh39.3m) to support Kenya’s proposed Whistleblower Protection law to strengthen Kenya’s anti-corruption legal architecture,” the dispatch added.
Whitehouse said the amount is in addition to another $2.7 million (Sh353.7m) provided by USAID to support the improved enforcement of policies and laws that deal with fraud, waste, and abuse in the delivery of public services to Kenyan citizens.
It said the new development showcases how the US-Kenya ties deliver tangible benefits to the people of the two nations in areas such as democracy, human rights, and governance.
“Building on a longstanding partnership to further police capacity building and reform efforts, the United States and Kenya announced a new $7 million (Sh917m) partnership to advance and strengthen the modernisation and professionalisation of Kenya’s National Police Service, with a focus on staff and training development,” Whitehouse said.
Ruto’s three-day US state visit officially started on Wednesday although he had since his arrival on Monday been involved in a number of engagements including visiting the Carter Center Library and Museum in Atlanta, Georgia.
The President also had the privilege of visiting the prestigious Tyler Perry Studios in the heart of Atlanta on Tuesday, May 21.
Ruto is travelling with First Lady Rachel Ruto, three of their daughters, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign and Diaspora CS Musalia Mudavadi, Ambassador Meg Whitman and a host of other leaders including CoG chair Anne Waiguru and MPs.