President Ruto's visit to America should benefit Kenya and Africa

President William Ruto's speech during the World Bank IDA 21 Heads of State Summit in Nairobi on Monday, April 29, 2024. [Samson Wire, Standard]

As President William Ruto heads to the US for a state visit, we must remind ourselves that heightened geopolitical rivalries have profoundly complicated the challenges facing the Global South. The big boys have historically turned the developing countries into their playing fields, sometimes with disastrous consequences to the citizens of the said countries.

When Dr Ruto assumed office, his priority was those left out and behind. All the interventions so far are yet to meaningfully help us create and sustain a new middle class. This therefore means that we must be pragmatic in dealing with our international friends on quid pro quo basis to ensure that we attract trade, investment, technological transfer as well as market to help us fire up our engines of growth.