President William Ruto engaged in discussions with former U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, May 23, 2024, delving into various topics including democratic progress, climate issues, and peace and security challenges across Africa.
Describing the meeting as 'productive', Ruto highlighted the focus on exploring opportunities for Africa's youthful population in fields such as technology, innovation, and education.
"We reviewed opportunities available to Africa’s young and dynamic demographic in tech, innovation, higher and technical education," Ruto remarked.
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Additionally, the leaders exchanged thoughts on how Kenya and the broader African continent can harness the resources and technological expertise of U.S. institutions to further their interests and development agendas.
Ruto, Biden meeting
Thursday, May 23, 2024, was the pinnacle of Ruto’s State Visit to the United States, as he held bilateral discussions with his host President Joe Biden at the White House.
Since his arrival in the US, Ruto maintained a rigorous schedule, participating in numerous events in Atlanta and Washington D.C.
Thursday's meeting at the White House was the highlight of Ruto's visit to the US as he held closed-door discussions with Biden to address key issues of mutual interest.
The foundation for Ruto's discussions with Biden was laid by his predecessor, President Uhuru Kenyatta, who in 2018 initiated a Strategic Partnership between Kenya and the US, a landmark agreement which marked the first such partnership by an African country.
Subsequently, in 2019, Kenya and the US launched a Bilateral Strategic Dialogue, aimed at identifying and addressing areas of common interest across various sectors.
These dialogues, centred on five core pillars including Economic Prosperity, Democracy and Civilian Security, Defense, Public Health (Health Cooperation), and Multilateral and Regional Issues, have guided the trajectory of Kenya-US relations.
While progress has been made, particularly in areas such as defence and health cooperation, other key objectives, such as a Free Trade Agreement to enhance trade between the two nations, have yet to materialize.