U.S. Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to visit Kenya next month following his attendance at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, a source familiar with the plans told Reuters on Monday.
According to the source, Vance’s visit to Kenya is expected to take place from November 24 to 27, shortly after the G20 leaders’ meeting set for November 22–23, which President Donald Trump will skip.
South Africa, the current holder of the rotating G20 presidency, is set to hand over leadership of the group to the United States at the summit.
While the White House has not yet released an official itinerary, the visit underscores Washington’s efforts to strengthen ties with one of its closest African partners. Kenya, a key security and economic ally, was designated a major non-NATO ally by the United States in 2024, the first such designation for a sub-Saharan African nation.
No details were immediately available on the specific agenda for Vance’s Nairobi visit, but analysts say discussions could center on trade, regional security, and U.S.-Kenya economic cooperation.
Kenya has expressed hopes of reaching a bilateral trade agreement with Washington by the end of this year, building on the long-standing African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
The visit also comes amid U.S. unease over Nairobi’s expanding ties with China, particularly in infrastructure and finance. American officials have at times warned that such partnerships could deepen Kenya’s debt exposure.
Both Vance’s office and Kenya’s foreign ministry declined to comment on the reported trip.
If confirmed, the visit will mark Vance’s first official tour of East Africa since taking office and signal a renewed U.S. diplomatic push on the continent as Washington prepares to assume the G20 presidency.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
