A top United States Diplomat is set to visit the country ahead of the August 9, 2022 General Election.
The US Department of State confirmed that Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, will travel to Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal from November 15 to 20.
Secretary Blinken is expected to meet President Uhuru Kenyatta for bilateral talks which will centre around cooperation on ending the Covid-19 pandemic and regional security issues such as Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan. This is according to the State Department's statement.
“Secretary Blinken will begin his trip in Nairobi, where he will meet with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Amb Raychelle Omamo, affirming our strategic partnership with Kenya," the statement read in part.
"The Secretary and representatives of the Kenyan government will discuss our shared interests as members of the UN Security Council, including addressing regional security issues such as Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan.”
In April, Blinken held online talks with the leaders of Nigeria and Kenya, in what the State Department billed at the time as a “virtual trip to Africa" as he could not travel then owing to the Covid-19 pandemic which limited global movements.
The visit, which comes amidst rising political temperatures in the country, is seen as a way of America stamping its authority in Africa and as a Super Power.
The State Department noted that the Secretary will underscore the US support for a peaceful and inclusive Kenyan election in 2022.
Secretary Blinken's Visit comes barely a month after President Kenyatta and his delegation held bilateral talks with the US President, Joe Biden, in Washington where trade, environment and regional security dominated.
Kenya, which is currently a member of the UN Security Council, has played a key role in regional efforts to ease the intensifying conflict in Ethiopia and has long sought to stabilize crisis-torn Somalia.
Nairobi has also supported broader attempts to restore civilian-led government in Sudan after a coup last month.
Bliken becomes the highest ranking official of the Biden administration to tour the country since President Joe Biden took office.
Secretary Blinken is also expected to go to Nigeria and Senegal where he will discuss West African security, health, climate, democracy and development issues, including recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and the promotion of a fairer and more inclusive global economy.
He will also press for expanded US trade and commercial ties with the two countries.
In Abuja, he will meet Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, as well as give a speech on the Biden administration's Africa strategy.
