President William Ruto has held talks with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York, with discussions focusing on strengthening cooperation between Kenya and the United States in trade, technology, energy, critical minerals and regional security. The meeting took place on Monday, September 21, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, as Kenya continues to pursue stronger economic and strategic ties with Washington.
AGOA and Trade Cooperation
Trade featured prominently during the discussions, with Ruto welcoming the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The President said the extension would help strengthen commercial ties between Africa and the United States while creating additional opportunities for businesses and economies on both sides. The discussions come as Kenya seeks to expand access to international markets, attract investment and strengthen its position as a regional economic hub.
AI and Emerging Technology
Ruto and Rubio also discussed opportunities for cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. According to Ruto, Kenya and the US are exploring the application of AI in areas including healthcare, education and financial services.
The two sides also discussed the importance of responsible governance of rapidly developing AI technologies, as countries globally consider how to maximise the benefits of AI while addressing emerging challenges. Ruto has separately called for greater African participation in shaping global AI rules and developing the technological capacity needed to avoid dependence on systems controlled outside the continent.
Critical Minerals and Nuclear Energy
The talks also covered critical minerals and nuclear energy, two areas Kenya has identified as important to its future economic and energy development. The US State Department said Rubio and Ruto discussed opportunities for Kenya’s critical minerals sector to position the country as an important player while creating opportunities for American companies to participate in value addition.
The discussions come as Kenya seeks to attract investment into mineral exploration and processing while increasing the amount of value retained locally. Nuclear energy was also included in the discussions as part of the broader cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector.
Regional Security
Regional and international security issues also featured during the meeting. Ruto said Kenya and the US discussed sustaining the security mission in Somalia, supporting stability in Haiti and responding to the worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan. Kenya’s involvement in regional and international security initiatives has made cooperation with the United States an important component of Nairobi’s foreign policy.
The talks on Somalia also come as international partners consider the future of support for the African Union-led security mission and efforts to strengthen Somalia’s security institutions.
Health Partnership
Rubio also acknowledged Kenya’s cooperation with the US under the America First Global Health Strategy. The health partnership forms part of the broader Kenya-US relationship, alongside trade, investment, technology and security. The meeting therefore brought together several areas of bilateral cooperation, reflecting the increasingly broad scope of Kenya’s engagement with Washington.
Kenya-US Relations
The Ruto-Rubio meeting forms part of the President’s wider engagements in New York during the 81st UN General Assembly. Ruto’s agenda in New York includes efforts to attract investment, strengthen trade partnerships and promote Kenya’s role in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, energy and critical minerals. The discussions with Rubio also highlighted the range of issues currently shaping Kenya-US relations, from economic and technological cooperation to regional security and international diplomacy.
