Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi has landed in Washington, D.C. in the US for a high-level diplomatic mission.
The trip follows an official invitation from the U.S. government.
According to a statement shared by Mudavadi’s office on Tuesday, May 6, the visit marks the first significant engagement between Nairobi and Washington since President Donald Trump was reelected.
Further, it comes just months after President William Ruto’s historic State Visit to the U.S. in May 2024, the first such visit by an African head of state since 2008.
“H.E. Mudavadi’s trip following an invitation from the US government, will be the first high-level engagement between Nairobi and Washington DC since President Donald Trump was reelected,’ read the statement in part.
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What Will Mudavadi Do in The U.S.?
While in Washington, Mudavadi is expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday.
Their bilateral discussions will focus on strengthening Kenya-U.S. relations in key areas such as security, trade, and investment.
Further, a central part of Mudavadi’s agenda will be pushing for the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
AGOA is a U.S. trade program that gives eligible African countries duty-free access to the American market. Kenya is keen on seeing the program extended as it continues to drive exports and job creation.
“On Trade and Investment, H.E. Mudavadi will push for the expanding of economic ties, including the renewal of African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and attracting US investments to Kenya,” detailed the statement.
Also, the Prime Cabinet Secretary is also scheduled to meet with Brian Mast, Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, and hold talks with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (IDFC).
Additionally, he will engage in a business roundtable with top U.S. investors at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, aiming to pitch Kenya as a prime investment destination.
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About the AGOA Deal And What Biden Said in 2024
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was enacted to support the economies of sub-Saharan Africa and to foster stronger economic ties between the region and the United States.
Each year, the U.S. President reviews the eligibility of sub-Saharan African nations, determining which countries meet the required criteria to remain in the program.
In January 2022, the U.S. removed Ethiopia, Mali, and Guinea from AGOA, citing concerns over human rights violations and recent coups.
During President William Ruto’s state visit to the United States in May, the Biden administration pledged to offer scholarships to Kenyan students as part of a broader initiative aimed at deepening educational cooperation between the two countries.
Several key programs were launched during the visit to boost academic collaboration between Kenyan and American institutions.
Among them is the Kennedy-Mboya Partnerships—a $3.3 million (Ksh436 million) scholarship program that will enable 60 Kenyan undergraduate students to study in the U.S. for one semester, with a strong focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines.
In addition, the Biden administration introduced “Partnership 2024,” a $500,000 initiative designed to support the advancement of Kenyan students, researchers, engineers, and scientists.
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