The President and former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, travelled to the US on Monday 3, February to attend the US National Prayer Breakfast that was slated for February 5 and 6, 2020.
On Wednesday 5, 2020: The president spoke at the Atlantic Council (a nonpartisan organization that galvanizes US leadership and engagement in the world) in Washington and addressed the Building Bridges Initiative and his vision to promote unity in the country.
"The greatest gift that I and my brother (Raila Odinga) can possibly ever leave the people of Kenya is the gift of peace, the gift of love and unity of all our people. And that's the mission that we are on," the head of state told the delegates.
He stated that the goal of the BBI was to promote inclusivity in the country and fight against the culture of divisive politics that have coloured the country over the last three decades.
President Kenyatta also called for greater inclusivity in the division of resources and economic opportunities in the country.
He alluded to a model that would do away with the winner-takes-all approach to elections.
"Once the election comes, everything stops...business stops one year before an election and restarts one year after an election. It is impossible to bring prosperity and long term economic stability that's required for a nation to develop and grow without stable peace. Everybody used to plan their businesses around the election cycle," he noted.
The president also addressed the question of US-China relations and how they would affect the African continent.
He stated that the continent would not and should not be forced to choose between the two powers.
Likening the situation to the USSR-US politics that birthed the Cold War, significantly affecting Africa in the '60s and '80s, he made it clear that African countries would not serve in proxy wars.
“There is room enough for all of us. We don't want to go back to the Cold War of the '60s, '70s and '80s where we were forced to choose which side we were on,” Uhuru declared.
On Thursday 6, 2020: The president met Senator Jim Inhofe at his office building in Washington, DC. The senator commended Kenyatta's efforts in uniting the country.
Uhuru also discussed trade relations between Kenya and the US with members of the US House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee.
The head of state, along with former PM Raila Odinga, then attended the National Prayer Breakfast's International Luncheon, where they addressed the question of divisive politics.
He also held a meeting with US President Donald Trump, where they commenced talks on a trade deal between the two countries ahead of the expiry of the African Growth and Opportunities Act in 2025.
President Kenyatta then addressed the US-Kenya Trade Forum where he reiterated Kenya's commitment to developing trade with the US.
"Today I want to assure all of you of Kenya’s unwavering commitment in developing the strongest ever trade investment framework with the United States of America.
"We are very keenly looking forward to concluding the trade arrangement between our two countries and I believe that these trade agreements would not only serve Kenya and United States but would probably set the base for a new engagement between the United States and other African countries," he assured.
