President William Ruto is set to travel to the United States next month for the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, his first visit under President Donald Trump’s administration — and a crucial test of Kenya’s diplomatic clout in Washington.
The visit comes against a backdrop of uncertainty. Trump, known for his cold and transactional approach to African leaders, has departed sharply from the warm diplomatic traditions of previous U.S. administrations. His recent mini-summit with five West African leaders was described by observers as “stage-managed,” fueling speculation that Ruto could face a similarly frosty reception.
The UNGA runs from September 9 to 29, with the high-level General Debate scheduled between September 23 and 27. On the sidelines, Ruto is expected to engage U.S. officials in talks covering trade, security, and Kenya’s foreign alignments.
U.S. Senator James Risch has already signaled that Washington will closely scrutinize Nairobi’s ties with China, Russia, and Iran, as well as alleged links to armed groups such as al-Shabaab and Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Concerns about the misuse of U.S. security assistance — including accusations of abductions, torture, and civilian abuses — are also likely to surface.
Ruto has consistently defended Kenya’s deepening partnership with Beijing. Just this month, he praised China for scrapping tariffs on key exports like tea, coffee, and avocados, insisting it was in Kenya’s “best interest” to expand access to Asian markets despite unease from Western partners.
Another flashpoint will be the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti, which Kenya leads. Trump’s 90-day freeze on foreign aid initially cast doubt on U.S. support for the deployment, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio later confirmed the mission would remain funded, underscoring Washington’s reliance on Nairobi in peacekeeping.
Trade will also dominate discussions. With the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) set to expire in September, Kenya is lobbying for a new free-trade agreement with the U.S. AGOA has allowed duty-free Kenyan exports since 2000 — shipments worth $737.3 million in 2024, largely apparel, coffee, and tea. Yet Trump’s hardline tariff policies threaten to undercut that progress.
For Ruto, the challenge will be balancing Kenya’s pursuit of new markets with Trump’s “aid-to-trade” doctrine, while also pushing his cultural diplomacy agenda, including talks with the Recording Academy on developing world-class creative infrastructure.
Whether he emerges with firm trade deals, renewed security commitments, and a diplomatic win — or is left navigating a strained, transactional encounter — could define Ruto’s presidency on the global stage.
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