Raila Odinga meets US Senator Chris Coons in Nairobi

Jeremiah Kioni (far left) and Kalonzo Musyoka (second from left) were among the Kenyan opposition leaders who attended the meeting between Senator Chris Coons and Raila Odinga. [Courtesy of Raila Odinga, Twitter]

Coons is known for having a keen interest in Kenya's political affairs. In August 2022, he visited the country and asked the top leadership to preside over peaceful elections and smooth hand-over of power.

US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman (pictured) had accompanied Delaware Senator Chris Coons to a meeting with Azimio leader Raila Odinga in Nairobi on March 29, 2023. [Courtesy of Raila Odinga, Twitter]

Before meeting Odinga on Wednesday, the American lawmaker held talks with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Nairobi.

"This morning (Wednesday, March 29), I hosted a delegation from the US, led by Senator for Delaware, Christopher Andrew Coons for consultations towards strengthening ties between the two nations, especially in trade, security, democracy, among other key issues of mutual interest," Gachagua said on his Twitter page.

"On behalf of President @WilliamsRuto, I thanked President @JoeBiden and the people of the United States of America through the senator for being critical partners in development and dealing with a host of challenges, including famine and drought," added Gachagua.

The senator's visit to Kenya comes at a time when Odinga is leading protests against President Ruto's administration, accusing it of doing nothing to improve the living standards of Kenyans.

Odinga also accuses Ruto of engineering electoral malpractice in the August 9, 2022 presidential election that locked him out of State House.