As they look to strengthen their relationship, Biden and Kenya’s Ruto will announce fresh investments

According to a senior U.S. administration official, investments in green energy and health industries in Kenya as well as a strategy to lessen the country’s debt load will be announced by Presidents Joe Biden of the United States and William Ruto of Kenya on Thursday.

As part of a three-day state visit, Ruto landed in the United States on Wednesday. On Thursday, he will have bilateral talks with Biden, and that evening will feature a sumptuous state supper. Ruto’s visit marks the first state visit by an African president since 2008 and the sixth one organized by the Biden administration.

A wave of military takeovers, conflicts, and unreliable elections that have rocked Africa’s political landscape in the last year have increased the power of China and Russia, the adversaries of the United States. Biden believes closer connections with Kenya will benefit US interests and contribute to the stability of the continent.

According to a senior U.S. administration official, Biden will name Kenya as a key non-NATO partner on Thursday, making it the first nation in sub-Saharan Africa to do so. Presently, Israel, Brazil, and the Philippines are among the eighteen nations that are classified as non-NATO allies.

According to a senior administration official, the leaders are also anticipated to unveil a comprehensive strategy to reduce Kenya’s massive debt load, the most of which is owing to China, as well as new U.S.-backed investments in green energy and health products.

According to a U.S. government official, the United States will announce $250 million in fresh investments in Kenya through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, including $180 million for a significant affordable housing project. With that, the U.S. financial agency will have more than $1 billion invested in Kenya.

As Kenya gets ready to send 1,000 paramilitary personnel to Haiti as part of a U.N.-led initiative to reduce gang violence and starvation in the Caribbean nation, attention will be drawn to the humanitarian catastrophe there.

With the assumption that he would defeat Donald Trump in the US presidential election, Biden announced that he would make an official trip to Africa in February. Although Biden promised to visit Africa in 2023, the trip never happened.

A supper with heirloom tomato soup, butter-poached lobster, smoked beef short ribs, and a white chocolate dessert will be held in honor of Ruto, lit by 1,000 candles.

Ruto’s favorite musical interests are being honored with the Howard University Gospel Choir and country musician Brad Paisley as the main performers for the event.