Staff Reports
President Joe Biden is planning to meet with Kenyan President William Ruto at the White House on Thursday for a joint press conference. The U.S. president and first lady Jill Biden welcomed their Kenyan counterparts at the White House earlier in the day with a state arrival ceremony. This visit is particularly significant as it marks the 60th anniversary of U.S.-Kenya diplomatic relations and the first state visit to the United States by an African leader in over 15 years.
WATCH LIVE: President Biden holds joint press conference with president of Kenyahttps://t.co/AmNBJmW7ag
IT’S IRONIC THAT KENYA IS ACTUALLY WHERE OBAMA WAS BORN.
— Jim (@DAYUNITEDSTATES) May 23, 2024
During the arrival ceremony, Biden praised Ruto for his “bold leadership.” The two leaders also released a joint statement to commemorate the anniversary of their nations’ diplomatic relations and laid out future diplomatic goals. Additionally, Biden is expected to inform Congress of his intention to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally, which would come with special privileges.
It’s worth noting that Kenya has led the deployment of a multinational police force to Haiti to address the armed insurgency in the capital city of Port-au-Prince and the resulting humanitarian crisis. The joint press conference between Biden and Ruto is scheduled to take place at 1:30 p.m., where they are likely to discuss their countries’ relationship, diplomatic efforts, and potentially the situation in Haiti.
