The United States has reaffirmed Kenya’s central role in its Africa strategy as a senior envoy began a three-day high-level visit to Nairobi aimed at advancing Washington’s commercial, security and infrastructure interests.
Speaking during a joint media briefing with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi in Nairobi on Thursday, the two diplomats cited defence, peace and security cooperation as the cornerstone of Kenya–US relations.
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said one of the key reasons for his visit was to thank Kenya for its contribution to international stability, particularly in Haiti, Africa and beyond.
“We are here to underscore the importance our government places on its relationship with Kenya, and the excellent state of that relationship. Our cooperation spans many areas, particularly security,” Landau said.
He was accompanied by US Africa Command chief Gen Dagvin Anderson.
Landau noted that cooperation gained particular urgency after the 1998 US Embassy bombing in Nairobi, making counterterrorism a shared priority.
He added that there was room to further strengthen bilateral trade ties.
“This kind of cooperation makes sense when it is win-win. Kenya can attract valuable foreign investment to drive development, while American companies can offer capital and skills,” he said.
Following an earlier meeting, President William Ruto said he was pleased that bilateral trade remained balanced.
“In 2024, Kenya exported goods worth $737 million (Sh95.07 billion) to the US, while the US exported goods worth $771 million (Sh99.45 billion) to Kenya,” President Ruto said in a statement.
The two countries are also negotiating a comprehensive trade deal covering tariff reductions or eliminations, digital trade and investment.
Mudavadi welcomed efforts to renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for a further three years, describing it as a major milestone for Kenya–US trade.
Landau also expressed interest in infrastructure corridors in Mombasa and Lamu, noting that strong economic and commercial relations can underpin deeper political and military cooperation.
Kenya and the US also agreed to advance collaboration in defence and regional security at a time when the Horn of Africa remains volatile.
“Regional security requires collaboration with partners, including the UN, the US government and the wider international community, so that we can collectively bring peace and stability to the region,” Mudavadi said.
He added that Washington’s recognition of Kenya’s leadership in international peace efforts, particularly the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, reflected deepening trust between the two countries.
“The mission could not have succeeded without collaboration with the US, especially on logistics and overall support,” Mudavadi said.
The visit also featured the ground-breaking ceremony for the expansion of the Manda Bay runway in Lamu, a project viewed as both a strategic security asset and a sign of sustained US investment in critical infrastructure.
“This sends a strong message that security is a priority and that Kenya and the region are receiving significant support for counterterrorism and regional stability,” Mudavadi said.
The visit comes as President Donald Trump rolls out his 2025 National Security Strategy.
On Africa, the strategy outlines plans to partner with select states to address conflict, foster mutually beneficial trade and transition from a foreign aid model to one focused on investment and growth.
Among the areas for engagement are mediation efforts in ongoing conflicts, where Kenya plays a significant role in the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa.
President Ruto was last month invited by Trump as a guarantor of the Washington Accords between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The strategy also calls for a shift in aid and investment approaches through AGOA, counterterrorism cooperation and a move away from donor funding towards trade- and investment-led partnerships.
Such partnerships, the strategy notes, should prioritise “capable, reliable states committed to opening their markets to US goods and services”.
Landau’s visit is part of a broader African tour that also includes Ethiopia, Djibouti and Egypt. The tour focuses on strengthening trade ties, deepening security partnerships and addressing regional conflicts in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.
The trip follows the postponement of an earlier planned visit to Kenya and Ethiopia by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
It also comes days after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi concluded his annual New Year tour of Africa, which included Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania and Lesotho, highlighting intensifying US–China competition on the continent.
Wang’s visit focused on strengthening strategic ties, advancing Belt and Road Initiative projects in infrastructure and the digital economy, and launching the China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.
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