President Ruto’s State Visit to the United States and its Implications for Kenya - ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION REPORT

He described the center as an important investment by the University of Nairobi and particularly the Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies (IDIS), towards understanding the United States (US) as a society, economy and major actor in the international system. [...] He cast the discussions of the day against the backdrop of 60 years of strong partnership and cooperation between Kenya and the US in trade, security, defense, economic development, healthcare, and technology as well as the contemporary global geopolitical competition and rivalry. [...] He stressed that the forum is an opportunity for expert analysts to move away from the ordinary debates around the optics and politics of the state visit as captured by the Kenyan media, public and politicians, to substantive framing of the real issues. [...] He expressed belief in the roundtable’s potential to unpack the state visit, in terms of Kenya’s strategic interests and positioning, in its relationship with the US and the rest of the world. [...] The other important question to ask, the elephant in the room is, “what is Kenya giving out, until today Biden is still talking about the visit to Kenya?” Answer: Steve Nyaga African countries lack clarity in terms of diplomatic contacts, the foreign policy towards regional and the future is in the BRICs in terms of the long- term policies.