Defence Chair Statement On US Concerns Regarding Kenya's Ties With China

I am writing in my capacity as Chairman of the Defence, Intelligence & Foreign Relations Committee of the National Assembly of Kenya to respond to your remarks made during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing held on May 13, 2025.

With the utmost respect, your framing of Kenya's current foreign policy posture - particularly in relation to China - appears to overlook the depth, consistency, and achievements of the U.S.-Kenya partnership. I believe it is necessary to remind ourselves of the broader and richer context of this relationship.

A Strategic and Trusted U.S. Partner

Kenya is proud to be designated a Major Non-NATO Ally of the United States - one of only a handful in Africa. This status was earned through decades of cooperation and sacrifice. We have worked side by side in counterterrorism, regional peacekeeping, and diplomacy, including ongoing operations in Somalia and our leadership in the Haiti Multinational Security Support Mission.

Our partnership has extended well beyond security. Through PEPFAR, the United States has saved and transformed millions of Kenyan lives. Kenya is a flagship country in this global health success story. In education and research, American institutions like the CDC and USAID have partnered with our universities, hospitals, and NGOs to build lasting capacity. U.S. firms such as Microsoft, Google, Coca-Cola, General Electric, and IBM continue to invest and thrive in Kenya. We are also advancing negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement - a first of its kind between the U.S. and a sub-Saharan African country. On

governance, Kenya's 2022 elections were peaceful and credible, with U.S. institutions offering technical and diplomatic support. These are facts that cannot be overshadowed by a single interpretation of a recent speech.

Kenya Is Not Changing Allegiance — We Are Changing the Conversation

President Ruto's reference to Kenya and China as "co-architects of a new world order" must be viewed as an assertion of Africa's right to shape its future, not as a pivot in allegiance. Kenya is calling for a more just global system — one where Africa contributes meaningfully to international governance and economic policy.

This aspiration mirrors President Trump's own push for reform within global institutions. From the United Nations to the World Trade Organization, his administration consistently questioned outdated structures and demanded fairer terms for American interests. Kenya is asking for the same — not to dismantle multilateralism, but to rebuild it on principles of equity and shared responsibility.

Shared Concerns on Climate and Trade

Like many in the United States, Kenya is concerned about how current global climate frameworks impact development. We seek climate justice — transitions that are not punitive but enabling, financed, and attuned to the realities of the Global South.

We also join the call for reform in global trade. We advocate for rules that support value addition, industrial growth, and fair competition. These are not anti-Western positions — they are pro-African positions that align with the very spirit of reform once championed by President Trump.

A Call for Respectful Reassessment

If there is a reassessment to be made, then let it be one that recognizes sovereignty, agency, and mutual benefit. Kenya is not walking away from the United States. We are widening our diplomatic space — as every nation has the right to do.

I extend a sincere invitation for you and your committee to visit Kenya, engage with our people, and witness the clarity with which we define our future. Kenya is not being pulled. Kenya is rising.

Yours sincerely,

Hon. Nelson Koech, MP Chairperson Defence, Intelligence & Foreign Relations Committee National Assembly of Kenya