President William Ruto’s administration has indicated an early preference for close diplomatic relations with Western nations, indicating a potential departure from his two predecessors, who relied heavily on emerging Eastern giants led by China to fund and develop economic projects.
President Ruto has had multiple economic engagements with diplomats and leaders of Western countries in the two months since assuming office, indicating a shift away from the ‘Look-East policy’ of the previous 20 years, which was initiated by the late President Mwai Kibaki and deepened by Uhuru Kenyatta.
Dr. Ruto hosted a US delegation led by Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Dr. Jewel Bronaugh at State House Nairobi a fortnight ago, where he declared that “Kenya is ready for more trade deals with the US under the AGOA program.”
The delegation included, among others, US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman, Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, and Nebraska Deputy Secretary of State Cindi Allen.
It was not the first time a US delegation had visited the State Department in the previous two months.
He had previously met with Ambassador Mike Hammer, US Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa, and Secretary of State Antony J Blinken.
Dr. Ruto was hosted to a dinner by King George III in September, when he flew to the United Kingdom to attend the burial of Queen Elizabeth II, his first trip since ascending to power.
Later, the Head of State flew to the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly, where he spoke to world leaders and was hosted to dinner by US President Joe Biden.
Dr. Ruto and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak signed an agreement on Monday to build a new multi-purpose dam in Kitui and Tharaka Nithi counties.
The project will cost Sh425 billion, making it Kenya’s second-most-expensive infrastructure piece after China Road and Bridge Corporation’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) (CRBC).
The Kenya-UK agreement is one of six projects worth Sh500 billion that will be expedited under a new UK pact signed on the sidelines of the COP27 climate conference in Egypt.
