On Wednesday, the United States Office of Public Affairs confirmed that the US Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, will travel to Nairobi on April 23 and engage with various stakeholders including President William Ruto through to April 25.
According to the statement issued by the US government, Raimondo is expected to travel to the country to cement business relations with Nairobi.
Raimondo is expected to jet into the country with a delegation of private sector players and members of the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA).
Key among Gina’s agenda is to leverage on Kenya’s flourishing digital space which presents a significant opportunity for American investors.
“She will highlight the US -Kenya bilateral commercial and investment relationship and flourishing digital space in Kenya, and throughout Africa, that is helping to shape the world for the better and create exciting opportunities for partnerships with the United States,” read the statement in part.
Secretary Raimondo is also expected to hold meetings with Kenyan government officials, as well as trade and digital ministers from across Africa during the duration of her visit.
Additionally, Gina will also engage with U.S. and Kenyan private sector representatives and host talks with women and youth leaders in science, technology and creative industries.
The move is part of of the US’s strategy to strengthen the foreign power's relationship with African countries in a bid to counter China's growing influence in East Africa.
Notably, Kenya and the US have been seemingly enjoying better relations with the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken being in contact with President Ruto on multiple occasions this past year.
On March 9, it was reported that Blinken called the President in relation to the mission in Haiti, which Kenya is expected to lead.
Further, the visit comes shortly after the Deputy Secretary for Commerce Don Graves, visited South Africa in November 2023 with a similar agenda.
Graves is reported to have pushed for the strengthening of relations with the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA) established in 2014 which seeks to provide advice on how the US can strengthen relations in Africa.
