President William Ruto’s visit to the United States will come to a close today. Many meetings have been held and several far-reaching agreements signed between the US Government, business entities and the Government of Kenya
While these are important agreements and concessions for Kenya to secure at this juncture, they can only be best described as promissory notes. The easier job is done. However, the hard task ahead is to make these promises come into fruition within the shortest time possible for the benefit of Kenyans. The responsibility now lies with current regime to ensure it does everything within its capacity and capabilities to secure full delivery of these promises.
Channel 15 News takes a look at some of the outcomes of the bilateral engagements and agreements, based on different sectors.
In relation to Defense and Security;
✅ US will designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally, making it the first sub-Saharan African country to receive the designation. Currently, 18 countries are designated as non-NATO allies.
✅ The alliance between Kenya and NATO – will deliver an additional U.S. aid, including a new $7 million partnership to help modernize Kenya’s National Police Service, with a focus on staff and training development.
✅ Kenya and US will also establish a strategic dialogue on artificial intelligence.
With regard to Trade and Investment;
✅ Microsoft will partner with United Arab Emirates-based artificial intelligence firm G42 to invest $1 billion in a data center in Kenya as part of its efforts to expand cloud computing services in East Africa.
✅ The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation announced plans to open an office in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, playing a key role in driving its efforts across key sectors in Kenya such as agriculture, health, e-mobility, and energy.
✅ The U.S. Agency for International Development will provide $15 million for new activities to reduce poverty and malnutrition and address global food security by expanding investment opportunities.
✅ Kenya and Coca cola signed Framework Collaboration Agreement to reinforce Coca-Cola’s engagement with Government of Kenya on policy consideration and Coca-Cola’s support in setting up a mango supply chain hub in Kenya.
✅ Coca-Cola will invest Sh23 billion ($175 million) over the next five years to expand its operations in Kenya.
On Debt and Finance the two countries agreed to;
✅ Launch the Nairobi-Washington Vision, a call to the international community to help debt-laden countries like Kenya manage debt while investing in economic growth. Ask international financial institutions to provide coordinated packages of support and creditor countries to provide forms of debt relief.
The United States has committed to:
✅ Make available lending of up to $21 billion to the International Monetary Fund’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust to support the poorest countries.
✅ Provide $250 million for crisis response to the World Bank’s International Development Association.
✅ With regard to Trade and Investment
Concerning Climate Change Keya and USA agree to;
✅ Launch of U.S-Kenya Climate and Clean Energy Industrial Partnership. The U.S. and Kenya plan to work with international financial institutions and multilateral trust funds to identify mechanisms for mobilizing investment for clean energy manufacturing and services.
✅ Support Virunga Power, a U.S. company that announced a pipeline of six hydropower projects in Kenya with a total expected investment of $100 million. These projects will provide 31 megawatts of clean, renewable energy over the next five years.
✅ Have the USA provide a $60 million grant from the Millennium Challenge Corporation that will fund a four-year program in Kenya focusing on transportation needs, safer options for women and pedestrians, and climate-friendly public transportation.
In relation to healthcare;
✅ The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Kenya’s government will share information, identifying best practices and defining steps toward the development and full launch of the Kenyan National Public Health Institute.
✅ The International Development Finance Corporation is making a $10 million direct loan to Kenyan company Hewa Tele, which supplies medical oxygen to healthcare facilities in Africa.
✅ HIV Sustainability Roadmap: An agreement for Kenya’s Ministry of Health and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to collaborate in developing a sustainable plan to eliminate HIV as a public health threat in Kenya by 2027.
✅ The USA will provide $31.1 million investment in Kenya’s digital health infrastructure, including expanding the availability of electronic medical records at the clinic and community levels, building renewable solar power plants for hospitals, and linking pregnant women to ambulance services through mobile platforms.
With respect to the education sector;
✅ Kenya will benefit with $3.3 million to fund a program for 60 Kenyan undergraduate students to study in the United States, focusing on STEM subjects.
✅ Kenya will also get additional $500,000 to support Kenyan students, scientists, researchers, and engineers by encouraging U.S. universities to increase investment in relationships with Kenyan universities and research institutions.
✅ The John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies will launch a new fellowship program this fall bringing together high-achieving mid-career government officials from select African countries. Kenya is the first country to be added to the inaugural fellowship cohort.
