Washington DC: Kenya will feature prominently in discussions between the US Government and 50 African heads of state and governments seeking to bolster trade and bilateral ties.
Kenya has been singled out for showcasing a shift in the US policy from a donor recipient to a strategic business partner where people and businesses will connect directly through facilitation of the two governments.
The US Government spends about $7 billion on Africa annually, with much of the funds going into military support, humanitarian and emergency assistance, HIV and Aids, malaria, and governance and democracy, among others.
The new concept brings on board the US private sector to invest in Africa and is expected to take root as discussions widen beyond President Barack Obama and the individual leaders to include congressional sessions. Obama will host President Uhuru among other leaders for dinner at White House Tuesday.
The summit kicks off at a time Kenya has bagged an opportunity to host one of the leadership centres under the Mandela Washington Leadership programme where youth will be offered leadership training skills and exchange programmes.
President Obama last week announced the support jointly by government and the private sector for the centres which will be created in South Africa, Senegal and Ghana when he met Young African Leaders Initiative fellows in Washington DC.
Obama announced US' commitment to help the East African Community boost trade among themselves, saying his administration will help facilitate movement of goods and services in the region.
Top on the agenda will be Kenya's widespread insecurity which has literally crippled the tourism industry with a series of terrorist attacks by Al-Qaeda allies operating Al-Shabaab cells in East Africa.
The Obama Administration has reiterated its commitment to support Kenya's security forces with equipment, training and intelligence gathering on terror activities.
Equally, critical to Kenya are projects which the US Government will renew support for is the US President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief.
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