Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi, new US Chargé d’Affaires Susan Burns reaffirm strategic bilateral partnership
key area of focus was the ongoing trade negotiations, especially as the African Growth and Opportunity Act nears its expiry next month
Kenya and the United States have reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi, who was speaking when he hosted Susan Burns, the new Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Nairobi, emphasised the importance of sustained dialogue and enhanced collaboration across key sectors to advance mutual interests and drive development.
The courtesy call sought to take stock of President William Ruto’s trip in May 2024 which yielded several new agreements in trade, innovation, investment, and technological collaboration.
key area of focus was the ongoing trade negotiations, especially as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) nears its expiry next month.
“We reviewed progress on the STIP and discussed the next steps as we transition into a post-AGOA framework. There’s need to ensure continuity in key programmes and safeguard development gains,” Mudavadi explained.
The 2025 AmCham Kenya–US Creative Economy Summit was also discussed, highlighting efforts to position Kenya as a hub for US investment in the creative sector.
The summit the two leaders agreed fostered dialogue on policy reforms to boost growth in film, music, and sports, while creating pathways for Kenyan talent to access global markets.
“Kenya remains keen on becoming a global hub for creative talent and US investment in the sector,” Mudavadi noted.
He cited the summit as a transformative step toward formalising public-private partnerships in the creative economy.
Amid recent changes in United States foreign policy, both leaders stressed the necessity of maintaining policy continuity and enhancing technical cooperation.
“We agreed on the proposal to establish a technical working group in Nairobi to accelerate implementation of priority projects,” said Mudavadi.
He reaffirmed Kenya’s unwavering commitment to its relationship with the United States, emphasising the country’s dedication to strengthening strategic ties to deliver tangible prosperity for the Kenyan people.
