NAIROBI, KENYA, AUGUST 6 ― US President Donald Trump has extended an invitation to Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta in a move that will see the two meet at White House later this month.
President Kenyatta will be heading to the US on an official visit on August 26, and is expected to meet his host at the White House on August 27.
Addressing local media at State House Mombasa, Spokesperson Kanze Dena confirmed the invitation and President Kenyatta’s planned visit.
“His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta has received an invitation from the US President Donald Trump. The president will visit the US on August 26 and during the meeting the two leaders will focus on a number of issues,” Dena told journalists.
Presidents Trump and Kenyatta are expected to discuss regional and continental peace and security, noting that Kenya has for long remained a leader in fostering peace not only in the East and Central Africa region but Africa at large.
Kenya’s capital Nairobi is home to the United Nations headquarters in Africa,established by the General Assembly in 1996.
Kenya is also leading in the fight against terrorism in the region where on October 16, 2011, Kenya Defence Forces moved into Southern Somalia to pursue insurgents group Al Shabaab after a series of kidnappings of tourists and attacks within Kenyan boundaries.
The troops from KDF were later integrated into the African Union Mission in Somalia(AMISOM) on February 22, 2012, after the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 2036.
“The meeting between the two leaders will reaffirm the longstanding relationship between the United States and Kenya as a cornerstone of peace and stability in Africa and the broader Indo-Pacific region,” White House through Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement on Monday.
The two are also expected to discuss trade and investment while forging for a stronger bilateral relationship.
“The two leaders will also hold talks on the relationship between the two countries and their citizens ensuring that it continues to flourish,” Dena said.
Trump and Kenyatta last met at the G7 summit in Italy in May, 2017.
The White House invitation comes as Kenya eyes direct flights to the US by the national carrier-Kenya Airways with President Uhuru Kenyatta expected to fly in the inaugural flight.
The flights are expected to increase trade volumes between the two countries with Kenya reaping more on tourism as the US remains a top international tourist source for the country.
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