Biden to host Kenyan president for state visit
President Biden and first lady Jill Biden will host Kenya’s President William Ruto and first lady Rachel Ruto next week at the White House.
The May 23 visit will mark the 60th anniversary of U.S.-Kenya diplomatic relations, according to the White House. It comes after Biden promised to visit Africa last year — but the president has yet to make a trip to the continent during his administration.
Biden will hold a bilateral meeting with Ruto, and the pair will talk “trade and investment, technological innovation, climate and clean energy, health, and security,” according to a release. A joint press conference and a state dinner will be held later that day.
“The visit will affirm our strategic partnership with Kenya and further the vision set forth at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit: African leadership is essential to addressing global priorities,” read a release.
Biden has committed to a closer relationship with African countries as his administration stresses its global leadership, and the state visit may appear as an alternative outreach to an in-person trip.
It comes after Biden broke his promise to visit Africa last year.
The first lady has visited Namibia and Kenya, and Vice President Kamala Harris has made stops in Zambia, Ghana and Tanzania.