- President Ruto says Kenya’s trade decisions serve national interests
- US reviewing Kenya’s Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) designation
- Ruto says trade with China helps fix the imbalance hurting Kenyan exports
- Washington is uneasy about Kenya’s ties with China, Russia, and Iran
- The US is also questioning Kenya’s Haiti police mission
President William Ruto has stood firm on Kenya’s expanding trade with non-Western nations, especially China, stating that every decision made is for the country’s economic progress. Speaking during a private sector roundtable in Nairobi, Ruto responded to the ongoing US review of Kenya’s Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status, saying his administration’s foreign policy is built on what works best for Kenyans.
“It is what I must do for Kenya. It’s in the best interest of Kenya that we get into this market,” Ruto stated.
Ruto revealed that some Western countries are uneasy with Kenya’s close economic ties to China. He, however, made it clear that the growing relationship is about correcting a deep trade imbalance.
“Some of our friends are complaining that we are doing too much trade with China. When I sat with President Xi Jinping, I told him Kenya is importing Sh600 billion of products from China, yet we are only exporting maybe 5%. That trade imbalance is serious,” he said.
As a result of this conversation, China agreed to open its doors to more Kenyan farm products.
“That is the right thing to do,” he added.
The President clarified that Kenya is not cutting off Western allies, but simply growing its global reach.
“We are progressing conversations with India. We are good with Turkey and Canada,” he affirmed.
The US granted Kenya the MNNA status earlier this year, giving Nairobi certain defence and trade benefits. But a fresh review, led by Senator Jim Risch from the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has raised several issues.
One key concern is whether American support for military or intelligence has been involved in human rights violations in Kenya, including torture and abductions.
The US is also uneasy about Kenya’s relationships with countries such as China, Russia, and Iran seen as rivals to American interests.
Another issue under review is Kenya’s commitment to sending 1,000 police officers to Haiti, a move supported by the US but delayed due to internal court battles.
The MNNA status is not just a badge of friendship. It depends on how closely a country aligns with US strategic interests. Washington expects its allies to reflect its policies globally either directly or indirectly.
With Kenya now walking a tightrope between global powers, the outcome of the review may shape the country’s diplomatic and trade future.
