U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau is set to undertake an extensive diplomatic tour of Africa from January 24 to February 1, 2026.
He will begin in Egypt before proceeding to Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti. The Deputy Secretary will then travel to East Africa, beginning with Nairobi.
While in Kenya, Landau will meet with Kenyan officials to discuss commercial engagement, counter-terrorism cooperation, Kenya’s contributions to security efforts in Haiti, and broader regional issues.
He will travel alongside U.S. Africa Command Commander General Dagvin Anderson.
U.S. Deputy Secretary Landau to Discuss Trade, Security During Visit in Africa
While in Cairo, Deputy Secretary Landau is scheduled to meet leaders from U.S. firms with investments in Egypt, alongside senior Egyptian officials.
The engagements will center on advancing cooperation on regional issues and deepening economic ties between the United States and Egypt.
In Addis Ababa, Landau will highlight avenues for expanding U.S. trade and investment with Ethiopia’s government and private sector.
His visit will also include discussions with Ethiopian leaders, including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, on regional stability and security.
He is further expected to hold talks with African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on shared objectives, including peacebuilding efforts, enhanced commercial partnerships, and responses to ongoing humanitarian challenges.
Trump on Haiti Mission
The Trump administration served as the principal financial supporter of the Multinational Security Support mission, committing US$300 million toward its implementation and operations.
However, in February 2025, the United States cut its funding for Haiti, withdrawing more than US$13 million (about KSh 1.7 billion) in support.
The administration later clarified its position on Kenya’s leadership of the UN-backed Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti.
Speaking to Reuters on Wednesday, September 24, U.S. Charge d’Affaires in Haiti Henry Wooster cautioned that U.S. financing depends on ongoing United Nations reforms.
Also Read: Kenya Deploys 230 Specialized Police Officers to Haiti
Henry Wooster stated that continuing American assistance will expire at the end of December if the U.N. Security Council rejects Washington’s proposal to reorganize and broaden the mission.
The Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti was renamed the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) by the United Nations on September 30.
“The Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, authorised by the Security Council in October 2023, faced chronic underfunding, insufficient personnel, and limited operational capacity, making it difficult to contain gangs that now control large parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince,” said the United Nations.
“While the MSS enabled the HNP to regain access to some areas and infrastructure, it struggled to match the scale of the crisis. Kenya, which led the MSS, also backed the new mechanism.”
The new GSF replaced the MSS mission in response to rising gang violence, widespread human rights abuses, and a severe humanitarian crisis affecting all aspects of life across the island nation.
Also Read: UN Security Council Decides Fate of Kenyan-led Mission in Haiti
US-Kenya Relations
The United States and Kenya have held ongoing discussions and entered into bilateral agreements, underscoring their growing cooperation.
In December 4, 2025, Kenya and the United States signed a five-year, US$2.5 billion Health Cooperation Framework, setting out a broad strategy aimed at saving lives, strengthening Kenya’s health system, and advancing shared prosperity and security.
Kenya became the first African country to successfully conclude a new health partnership of this kind with the United States.
Under the framework, the US planned to commit up to $1.6 billion over five years toward priority health initiatives in Kenya.
Recently, President Donald Trump suspended processing of immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries, effective January 21, 2026.
While several African nations, including Uganda, Tanzania, and Nigeria, are affected, Kenya was excluded from the list, offering relief to Kenyan applicants seeking immigrant visas to the US.
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