US President Joe Biden to host President Ruto in milestone State Visit

President Joe Biden poses for a photo with President William Ruto and First Lady Rachael during the US-Africa Leaders Summit in 2022 at the White House. [White House]

The White House has announced US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto for a State Visit on May 23.

“The upcoming visit will mark the 60th anniversary of U.S.-Kenya diplomatic relations and will celebrate a partnership that is delivering for the people of the United States and Kenya,” said the White House in a statement.

The visit is set to strengthen the shared commitment between the two countries to advance peace and security.

It will also seek to expand economic ties and stand together in defence of democratic values.

It is set to affirm the US strategic partnership with Kenya to further the vision set forth during the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit.

“The leaders will discuss ways to bolster our cooperation in areas including people-to-people ties, trade and investment, technological innovation, climate and clean energy, health, and security.”

President William Ruto has welcomed the move by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden to host him and First Lady Rachel Ruto at the White House on May 23, 2024, for a state visit.

“This visit will provide an opportunity for our governments and nations to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations, which began at the dawn of Kenya's independence from colonial rule, and the birth of a free, open, democratic sovereign nation,” said Ruto.

He said that he looks forward to engaging Biden in economic, political and diplomatic spheres of endeavour, and the shared commitment to fundamental values defining strong policy convergence and robust strategic alignment to enterprises, and governments.

“Kenya views the state visit as a high-profile opportunity to articulate a new era of dynamic partnership aimed at transforming trade and investment, green energy and climate action, digital technology and innovation, health and human development,” he added.

Other areas are peace and security, multilateralism and collective action which he said are aimed to deliver shared prosperity for Kenya, Africa, the Global South and the entire world.