Why US opened multi-billion purse for Kenya

During Ruto’s state visit, President Joe Biden and American business opened the country’s purse, signing deals in almost all sectors. The US will construct a new 440-kilometre Nairobi-Mombasa expressway.

This would be the first major road to be constructed by an American firm in a long time, as China had taken over infrastructure works in Kenya.

President Biden’s administration also designated Kenya a major non-Nato ally, a first in sub-Saharan Africa, and a deal coming with many military and financial advantages unavailable to non-Nato members.

These include priority delivery of US military supplies such as oceangoing vessels.

The charm offensive comes only days after a Gallup report suggested the US lost its place as the most influential global power in Africa last year. China had the highest approval rating on the continent.

Diplomacy experts said the US is keen to turn the tide.

International relations scholar Dr Cavince Adhere observed the move to win over Ruto is part of its geopolitics to ward off the influence of China and other Asian countries in Africa.

“What we are seeing is simply an attempt by the US to influence the hearts and minds in Africa. The US wants to regain its influence,” he said.

The US, he added, is also keen to leverage Kenya’s young, vibrant and educated population, strategic location and vibrant economy to crack Africa.

In the recent past, Africa’s biggest economies, including South Africa, have differed diplomatically from the US.

“Kenya is a strategic to the US interest in Africa. It is in the interest of the US that Kenya is not hostile,” United States International University International Relations lecturer Macharia Munene said.

Since Ruto took over, Kenya appears to have demonstrated its commitment as America’s trusted ally in Africa.

Kenya has agreed – and has started deploying – about 1,000 police to gang-ridden Haiti – a risky, US-backed undertaking that has been highly criticised.

The East African nation has also sided with the US on controversial matters, including the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

With the visit, Ruto became the first African leader in more than 15 years to make an official state visit to the US.

Ruto also became only the sixth head of state, after leaders of South Korea, France, India, Australia and Japan, to be accorded a state visit during Biden’s tenure.

“Kenya is ranked highly in the US foreign policy as a lead nation in Africa – perhaps now ranked higher than South Africa and Nigeria,” Africa Policy Institute CEO Peter Kagwanja said.

America’s ‘special treatment’ of Ruto comes at a time when the global superpower’s relationship with most African countries is strained.

Observers say the Biden administration is keen to use Kenya as a gateway to challenge China and Russia whose influence appears to be deepening.

“Kenya is a very influential country in Africa, and it is a gateway to other African countries. Kenya is the region’s leader on matters of security, finance and ICT, and the US is keen to tap into this influence,” Macharia said.

In December last year, South Africa sued Israel at the International Court of Justice over what it called genocide against Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.

In March, South Africa requested further measures from the ICJ, accusing Israel of “weaponising” starvation by preventing enough humanitarian aid from reaching the largely sealed-off exclave.

The case has since inspired a bipartisan push in the US Congress for legislation mandating a full review of the bilateral relationship with South Africa.

Chad and Niger have also cut military links with the US in favour of Russia.

Beijing and Moscow have aggressively courted allies on the continent over the past two decades.

The Gallup survey indicated median approval ratings of Washington in Africa slipped from 59 per cent in 2022 to 56 per cent in 2023.

China, on the other hand, recorded its highest leadership approval rating in Africa in a decade.

International experts say the US views Kenya as the best country to help it regain influence on the continent.

America also sees Kenya as a dependable security and business partner.

Kenya has a relatively stable and strong economy, is strategically located for business and thus is a good gateway to Africa.

In addition, Kenya has stood with America and taken care of its interests while other African countries have taken a contrary position.

Kenya is sending its troops to Haiti, a country America is believed to have deep interests in. The county has been overrun by gangs that have rendered it ungovernable.

At a joint news conference with President Biden at the White House, Ruto put forward the case for deploying Kenyan police in Haiti. He said that the move demonstrated its commitment to peace.

“Committing Kenya to Haiti is not so much about what happened in the past. We don’t find that the US is committing Kenya to Haiti. I am the President of Kenya and I decide,” Ruto said.

Besides Haiti, Kenya has taken a firm position, siding with the US, in the protracted war between Ukraine and Russia.

Kenya has supported Ukraine and condemned Russia for the invasion.

“Kenya is gravely concerned by the announcement made by the Russian Federation to recognise the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine as independent states,” Martin Kimani, Kenyan Ambassador to the UN Security Council, said in 2022.

“In our considered view, this action and announcement breach the territorial integrity of Ukraine," Ambassador Kimani added.

In the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, Kenya was among the first countries in Africa to condemn Hamas, a military group in Gaza, for its attack on Israel on October 7.

President Ruto issued a firm statement, condemning Hama’s attack on civilians in Israel. Hamas has been designated a terrorist entity by many countries.

The International Crisis Group reported Kenya has withdrawn its troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo partly due to an intervention by the US.  

Kenya has been hosting talks among factions from South Sudan with the blessing of the US.

On Thursday, Washington announced Kenya would receive 150 armoured security vehicles expected to arrive in September.

The US allocated Sh173.10 billion to support independent civil society to effectively oversight governance processes. The amount also covers youth empowerment programmes to strengthen political engagement and also advance the inclusion of people with disability.

Ruto also secured Sh564.18 million to fight corruption.

This includes Sh66.37 million for a new integrity programme to make county budget processes more transparent and a similar amount for anti-corruption advocacy.

Ruto and Biden agreed to a Sh929.25 million partnership to advance and strengthen the modernisation and professionalisation of the National Police Service.

To improve the living conditions in Kenya’s prisons, the US advanced Sh292.05 million to support priority reforms in the Kenya Prison Service.