President Uhuru Kenyatta is scheduled to meet his US counterpart Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, February 6.
The leaders are expected to begin negotiations on a free-trade agreement between Kenya and the United States, with Trump's schedule indicating that they will hold an 'expanded bilateral meeting'.
If the deal is sealed, it would make history as the first free-trade agreement signed between the US and a Sub-Saharan African nation.
Sources cited by Bloomberg claimed that the Trump administration hoped the deal would set the tone for future agreements to be signed with other African nations, particularly with the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (Agoa) coming close to an end.
Agoa is a US Trade Act that came into effect in May 2000 with the stated goal of enhancing market access to the US for Sub-Saharan African nations that meet qualification criteria.
African countries that are part of Agoa gain duty-free access for their goods in the American market.
At least 39 African countries currently enjoy privileged duty-free access to the market under Agoa for over 6,500 goods. The program is set to expire in 2025.
Bloomberg claimed that an unnamed individual involved in the upcoming negotiations revealed that the US hoped the free-trade agreement with Kenya would be used as a model in negotiations with other African countries.
While in the US, Uhuru will also attend the National Prayer Breakfast to be held in Washington on February 5 and 6 with over 2,000 guests expected from around the world.
Uhuru was invited to the event alongside Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga who famously shook hands with the President on March 9, 2018, bringing an end to a protracted post-election dispute.
While it has sparked controversy and debate at home, the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) borne out of the handshake has earned plaudits around the world for its agenda of bringing the country together.
"His Excellency President Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga have been invited to speak at the international luncheon that will precede the Prayer Breakfast.
"Part of the reason His Excellency the President and the former PM have been invited to attend the US national prayer breakfast is their demonstrated commitment to peaceful and constructive resolution of internal conflicts in Africa, particularly the example the Government of Kenya has set in deepening democratic values, rule of law and inclusive pro-poor development friendly policies," a brief from State House read in part.
