U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has moved to calm speculation that Washington could strip Kenya of its coveted Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status, declaring the East African nation a “reliable partner” after talks with President William Ruto in New York.
“Kenya has been a reliable partner to the U.S. as we pursue peace and security both in Africa and Haiti,” Rubio said, adding that their discussions focused on deepening security cooperation and expanding U.S. commercial investment.
His remarks appeared aimed at killing speculation in Washington policy circles that Kenya’s growing alignment with China could jeopardise the MNNA designation.
The issue was thrust into the spotlight last month after Senator James Risch, the Republican chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, floated an amendment requiring a detailed review of Kenya’s military, political and financial dealings with Beijing.
Risch accused Ruto of “embracing Beijing too openly” following his April state visit to China, where more than 20 bilateral agreements were signed in areas from infrastructure and education to digital technology. Ruto had described Kenya and China as “co-architects of a new world order” — language that unsettled U.S. officials.
In May, Risch argued that it was “an error” to rely on allies courting China so publicly and pressed for scrutiny of Kenya’s use of U.S. security assistance, citing allegations of repression and abuses against civilians.
The controversy was further inflamed when ousted deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, during a brief visit to the U.S., threatened to testify against Ruto in any MNNA review.
He accused Ruto of misusing U.S. aid and branded him “the enemy”, though Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed his claims as idle political talk.
Ruto has defended Nairobi’s pivot eastward as a pragmatic trade strategy, insisting Kenya must access new markets to safeguard its economic future.
“Some of our friends are complaining that we are doing too much trade with China,” he said in August. “But it is what I must do for Kenya.”
For now, Rubio’s assurances signal Washington is unwilling to downgrade ties. Yet the episode underlines the delicate balancing act facing Ruto as he courts Beijing without alienating Kenya’s most powerful Western ally.
