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- American lawmakers want to hear directly from Kenya's president.
- It would make William Ruto the first African leader to address a joint US Congress session in nearly two decades.
- Kenya is a key US partner on the continent, including in its fight against jihadism.
Kenya's President William Ruto will become the first African head of state to address a joint session of the US Congress in 18 years, if powerful American lawmakers have their way.
Ruto is expected in Washington on 23 May as part of US President Joe Biden's efforts to make up for his failure to visit Africa as promised last year.
While there, Ruto should address the House and Senate, according to a formal request submitted by Michael Thomas McCaul, the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and its former chair, now a ranking member, Gregory Weldon Meeks.
The last to do so was Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, when she was the president of Liberia.
In their letter addressed to the Speaker, Mike Johnson, the two lawmakers said such an invitation "would underscore the importance of the US-Kenya relationship and send a valuable signal to the people of Africa".
Ruto will arrive as the US and Kenya mark 60 years of diplomatic ties.
Kenya and South Africa are America's key partners in Africa, but relations with SA have been strained of late.
The two congressmen outlined some of the key alliances between the two countries.
"US-Kenya relations continue to deepen, encompassing strong political, economic, technological and cultural ties. The United States is among Kenya's largest trading partners, and Kenya is one of Africa's most dynamic economies, boasting a top utilisation rate of US market access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
"Nearly 100 000 Kenyan Americans call the United States home. Moreover, the United States maintains an overseas military base at Manda Bay, on the Indian Ocean, to support operations to counter terrorist threats from A-Shabaab," they said in their letter.
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The US' fight against violent extremism in west and central Africa has, in recent times, faced rejection from military juntas in favour of Russia's paramilitary outfit, the Africa Corps.
But, in east Africa, relations remain cordial.
"Kenya's active participation in Africa's future and beyond is vital for peace and stability in the region and aligns with the broader economic and strategic interests of the United States," the lawmakers said.
Last week, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo met with Ruto, and congratulated the Kenyan leader for what she called "leadership across the continent on business and policy innovation".
The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The stories produced through the Africa Desk and the opinions and statements that may be contained herein do not reflect those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
