Kenya–United States Relations on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
Kenya–United States relations are
bilateral relations
Bilateralism is the conduct of political, economic, or cultural relations between two sovereign states. It is in contrast to unilateralism or multilateralism, which is activity by a single state or jointly by multiple states, respectively. When ...
between
Kenya
)
, national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"()
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Nairobi
, coordinates =
, largest_city = Nairobi
, ...
and the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. Kenya and the United States have long been close allies and have enjoyed cordial relations since Kenya's independence. Relations became even closer after Kenya's democratic transition of 2002 and subsequent improvements in human rights.
This was preceded by sometimes frosty interludes during President Moi's regime when the two countries often clashed over bad governance issues, resulting in aid suspension and many diplomatic rows. Following the election of the new government of Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013, relations somewhat took a dip when the new president forged a new foreign policy looking east away from traditional western allies. Kenya–United States relations have been cemented through cooperation against Islamist terrorism and a visit by President Obama to Kenya, which is the homeland of his father.
Kenya's athletic mastery of some auspicious American events such as the
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon race hosted by several cities and towns in greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts, United States. It is traditionally held on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897, the event was i ...
and
New York Marathon
The New York City Marathon (currently branded TCS New York City Marathon after its headline sponsor) is an annual marathon () that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is the largest marathon in the world, with 53,627 finishe ...
have increased ordinary Americans' consciousness of Kenya paving the way for a warm mutual regard between the two peoples. An attack on Kenya by
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda (; , ) is an Islamic extremism, Islamic extremist organization composed of Salafist jihadists. Its members are mostly composed of Arab, Arabs, but also include other peoples. Al-Qaeda has mounted attacks on civilian and military ta ...
in 1998 as well as subsequent more attacks by
Al-Shabaab, has drawn the two countries politically closer due to the shared fate the U.S. has had of similar targeting in the September 11 attacks by Al-Qaeda in
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan (also known as Downtown Manhattan or Downtown New York) is the southernmost part of Manhattan, the central borough for business, culture, and government in New York City, which is the most populated city in the United States with ...
and
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters building of the United States Department of Defense. It was constructed on an accelerated schedule during World War II. As a symbol of the U.S. military, the phrase ''The Pentagon'' is often used as a metony ...
.
In a 2013
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
World Service poll, 69% of Kenyans view U.S. influence positively, with 11% viewing U.S. influence negatively.
History
Independence
After Kenya's independence on 12 December 1963, the United States immediately
recognized the new nation.
However, it was not until 2 March 1964 that
diplomatic relations
Diplomacy comprises spoken or written communication by representatives of states (such as leaders and diplomats) intended to influence events in the international system.Ronald Peter Barston, ''Modern diplomacy'', Pearson Education, 2006, p. 1 ...
were established with
William Atwood establishing the U.S. Embassy at Nairobi.
The United States also provided the fledgling nation with $21 million in funds and technical aid, with Kenya seeking more loans from the United States.
The United States soon found itself invested in Kenyan politics due to the power struggle between
Tom Mboya
Thomas Joseph Odhiambo Mboya (15August 19305July 1969) was a Kenyan trade unionist, educator, Pan-Africanist, author, independence activist, and statesman. He was one of the founding fathers of the Republic of Kenya.Kenya Human Rights Commissio ...
and
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga
Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga (October 1911 – 20 January 1994) was a Luo (Kenya), Luo chieftain who became a prominent figure in Kenya's struggle for independence. He later served as Kenya's first Vice-President of Kenya, Vice-President, and t ...
.
The United States had been impressed by Mboya since the 1950s, and sought to empower him in the new administration instead of the more leftist Odinga.
The United States was successful, and Mboya began wooing Kenya's prime minister
Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyatta (22 August 1978) was a Kenyan anti-colonial activist and politician who governed Kenya as its Prime Minister from 1963 to 1964 and then as its first President from 1964 to his death in 1978. He was the country's first indigenous ...
into becoming more favorable with the United States and the
CIA
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA ), known informally as the Agency and historically as the Company, is a civilian intelligence agency, foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States, officially tasked with gat ...
.
Cold War
After Odinga's fall from power, Kenya found itself squarely in the Western bloc during the
Cold War
The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...
period.
The fact that Soviet ideals never gained traction in post-independence Kenya meant that there was little to no jockeying between the United States and the
U.S.S.R.
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
in this region.
This meant there was little need for Kenya and United States relations, since the United States took Kenyan support for granted.
However, the 1980s saw Kenya become more involved in Cold War politics. After Jomo Kenyatta's death, the new president of Kenya
Daniel arap Moi
Daniel Toroitich arap Moi ( ; 2 September 1924 – 4 February 2020) was a Kenyan politician who served as the second president of Kenya from 1978 to 2002. He was the country's longest-serving president. Moi previously served as the third vice ...
sought to further strengthen relations with the United States
Moi joined the United States'
Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force
The Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF) is an inactive United States Department of Defense Joint Task Force. It was first envisioned as a three-division force in 1979 as the Rapid Deployment Force, or RDF, a highly mobile force that could ...
, allowing for the construction of United States military installations in Kenya.
The most notable development of this military construction was allowing United States naval access to Mombasa, which resulted in the United States paying Kenya $26 million.
Democratization Era
Good relations, however, fell into jeopardy with the deteriorating civil rights picture in Kenya. In 1987, the chairman of the Congress subcommittee on Africa, Michigan congressman
Howard Wolpe
Howard Eliot Wolpe (November 3, 1939 – October 25, 2011) was an American politician who served as a seven-term U.S. Representative from Michigan and Presidential Special Envoy to the African Great Lakes Region in the Clinton Administration, whe ...
, accused Daniel arap Moi of bankrolling criminals and committing human rights abuses. The issue was then placed on the agenda for Ronald Reagan's talks with Moi, but nothing came of it at this time. In 1991, however, the United States joined with a coalition of other nations who gave financial assistance to Kenya to pressure for reforms.
In a 1991 meeting in Paris, Kenya's aid donors insisted on ending corruption and human rights abuses, threatening to pull their aid.
These concerns caused the United States to suspend its aid in 1992. Even when United States pressure forced
multiparty elections in 1992, relations were tense all throughout the 1990s due to international discontent with the tactics of the Moi regime.
The United States reacted positively to the Kenyan elections of 2000, the first democratic transition of power in Kenya's history.
The new president, Mwai Kibaki was honored as the first African head of state to be invited to Washington D.C. for a state visit.
War on Terror
On 7 August 1998,
al Qaeda
Al-Qaeda (; , ) is an Islamic extremist organization composed of Salafist jihadists. Its members are mostly composed of Arabs, but also include other peoples. Al-Qaeda has mounted attacks on civilian and military targets in various countr ...
terrorists
detonated a car bomb outside the United States embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, leaving 200 dead and thousands wounded. The immediate aftermath strained relations between the United States and Kenya, as Kenyans felt that the United States only cared about the Americans who lost their lives, not the Kenyans.
The situation was worsened when the American ambassador,
Prudence Bushnell
Prudence Bushnell (born 1946) is an American diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Kenya and as United States Ambassador to Guatemala.
Early life and education
Bushnell was born in Washington D.C. in 1946. Her father was a ca ...
, implied that Kenyans were attempting to loot the embassy.
However, since that event, the Kenyan and U.S. governments have intensified cooperation to address all forms of insecurity in Kenya, including terrorism.
The United States provides equipment and training to Kenyan security forces, both civilian and military. In its dialog with the Kenyan Government, the United States urges effective action against
corruption
Corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense which is undertaken by a person or an organization which is entrusted in a position of authority, in order to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one's personal gain. Corruption m ...
and insecurity as the two greatest impediments to Kenya achieving sustained, rapid economic growth.
Families and victims of the attack have severally appealed to the Kenyan government to
petition
A petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or public entity. Petitions to a deity are a form of prayer called supplication.
In the colloquial sense, a petition is a document addressed to some offici ...
the U.S. government to compensate them. A Kenyan journalist who resides in the U.S. has on several occasions castigated the U.S. government for its nonchalant approach to the issue. In an article titled "The Big Bloody Burden of The Big Brother" published by the ''
Daily Nation
The ''Daily Nation'' is the highest circulation Kenyan independent newspaper with 170,000 copies.
History
The ''Daily Nation'' was started in the year 1958 as a Swahili language, Swahili weekly called ''Taifa'' by the Englishman Charles Hay ...
'', one of the two mainstream Kenyan Newspapers, the writer,
Ben Mutua Jonathan Muriithi
BMJ (Ben Mutua Jonathan) Muriithi (born Jonathan Nyaga; 4 May 1969) is a print, radio and television journalist and actor based in the United States. Muriithi is also a regional reporter and correspondent for NTV, a Kenyan media outlet, QTV, ...
wondered why "the Obama administration and others before it had turned a blind eye yet it was clear that Kenya had suffered as a Collateral damage".
Following the
September 11th attacks
The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercial ...
, Kenya was designated as a frontline in the United States'
Global War on Terror
The war on terror, officially the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), is an ongoing international counterterrorism military campaign initiated by the United States following the September 11 attacks. The main targets of the campaign are militant I ...
. Kenya's
National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS) received a list of two hundred suspects linked to
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda (; , ) is an Islamic extremism, Islamic extremist organization composed of Salafist jihadists. Its members are mostly composed of Arab, Arabs, but also include other peoples. Al-Qaeda has mounted attacks on civilian and military ta ...
in late September 2001.
Following Al-Qaeda attacks in Mombasa in 2002, new president
Mwai Kibaki
Emilio Stanley Mwai Kibaki (15 November 1931 – 21 April 2022) was a Kenyan politician who served as the third President of Kenya from December 2002 until April 2013 and is regarded as one of Kenya's founding fathers.
He had previously ser ...
created the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit to further counter-terror operations.
The United States Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program provided training to 500 Kenyan security officers in the United States and many more in East Africa training locations.
The United States also sunk large amounts of money into
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Kenya.
This was part of an overall emphasis placed on international NGOs during the War on Terror that saw United States funding to NGOs increase by billions.
However, this particularly affected Kenya due to the high quantity of aid the United States sends to Kenya.
This period also saw a "blurring of lines" in regards to NGOs, as it became more common for NGOs in Kenya to work with military officials in the
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD or DOD) is an executive branch department of the federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government directly related to national secu ...
.
Even as Kibaki cooperated, relations suffered due to the United States' perceived "obsession" with the War on Terror and concerns that alignment with the United States led to domestic terrorism.
Kenyan policymakers feared that while the United States had encouraged democratization, they ceased to encourage democracy during the War on Terror.
International organizations said American policy is pushing Kenya to discriminate against its Muslim population.
Another key aspect of the War on Terror was that American aid to Kenya became even more politicized and "securitized."
During this period, The United States heavily tied USAID support directly to military and counterterror operations undertaken by the
Kenyan Defense Forces. The United States also demonstrated a willingness to play hardball, sometimes threatening to cut aid if Kenya does not support United States foreign policy on the international level.
Nonetheless, Kenya continues to back counter-terror operations in exchange for financial support.
Modern Era
The United States became a talking point during
Kenya's 2007 elections, as some believed they were supporting Raila Odinga as retaliation for Kibaki reducing Kenyan dependence on the United States. Following the violence caused by Kenya's 2007 elections, the United States and other Western nations pressured Kenya to create tribunals to punish those responsible for the violence.
The United States initially threatened to pull its aid unless the violence was addressed, but political will for such a step waned throughout the year.
The tribunals were never established, but the United States was satisfied by the peaceful elections in 2013.
The election of
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...
in
2008
File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...
was greeted with great optimism from Kenya, who felt pride in him due to his
Kenyan father.
His Africa policy was based on four pillars—promoting democracy, managing conflicts, strengthening the economy, and providing access to education.
That said, he also continued many of
President George W. Bush's policies, particularly in counterterrorism.
President Obama was also the first sitting president to visit Kenya.
The election of Barack Obama also brought back international discourse regarding Kenya's Mau Mau uprising, as Obama's father had been interned by the British for his Mau Mau alignment.
While this was a non-issue in Kenya, it put some domestic pressure on Obama to distance himself from his Kenyan heritage.
However, Barack Obama has always been explicit that Kenya should expect no favors from him due to his heritage.
Despite concerns regarding favoritism, the Obama administration did not take a more active role in Kenyan politics like some expected.
The Obama era also saw U.S. assistance to Kenya grew "exponentially," as the
U.S. Agency for International Development
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. With a budget of over $27 ...
(USAID) put in a 2012 document. The number of USAID projects had grown significantly enough for the agency to justify hiring additional contractors to help it manage its Kenyan program portfolio. A Statement of Work for the support initiative acknowledged that "the level of U.S.-financed Kenyan operations has outpaced Washington's ability to adequately manage it." Additionally, USAID has faced academic criticism for backing projects that mostly benefit the rich of the Kenya.
The
2013 elections in Kenya brought controversy due to the words of the
United States Assistant Secretary of State Assistant Secretary of State (A/S) is a title used for many executive positions in the United States Department of State, ranking below the under secretaries. A set of six assistant secretaries reporting to the under secretary for political affairs ...
at the time,
Johnnie Carson
Johnnie Carson (born April 7, 1943) is a diplomat from the United States who has served as United States Ambassador to several African nations. In 2009 he was nominated to become U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs by Presid ...
.
While not endorsing a candidate, he stated that "actions have consequences," implying opposition to the challenger,
Uhuru Kenyatta
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta (born 26 October 1961) is a Kenyan politician who served as the fourth president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022.
Kenyatta was chosen by Daniel Arap Moi as his preferred successor, but Kenyatta was defeated by opposition le ...
.
The Kenyatta presidency was notably cold towards the United States prior to the
terrorist attack
Terrorism, in its broadest sense, is the use of criminal violence to provoke a state of terror or fear, mostly with the intention to achieve political or religious aims. The term is used in this regard primarily to refer to intentional violen ...
on Kenya's Westgate mall.
The terrorist attack led to more cooperation, as Kenya focused more on counterterror operations.
The
2016 election of
President Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...
did not bring similar enthusiasm to Kenyans.
He also stirred controversy by referring to Kenya as a "shithole" country. Despite that, it was found that Kenyans have much more confidence in President Trump than most of the world, likely due to Kenya's overall pro-American views.
Visits
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, diplomat, and former lawyer who served as the 67th United States Secretary of State for President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, as a United States sen ...
visited Nairobi in 2009 and 2012
Group pushes US focus on Kenya reforms. Retrieved on 31 July 2015. and Secretary of State
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry (born December 11, 1943) is an American attorney, politician and diplomat who currently serves as the first United States special presidential envoy for climate. A member of the Forbes family and the Democratic Party (Unite ...
also visited in 2015.
Secretary of State John Kerry Remarks in Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved on 31 July 2015.
Vice President
Joe Biden visited Nairobi in 2010.
Biden lands in Nairobi. Retrieved on 31 July 2015.
President
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...
, whose
Barack Obama, Sr., father is a Kenyan native, became the first
U.S. President
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...
to visit Kenya when he visited Nairobi in 2015
Nairobi returns to normal after Barack Obama's visit. Retrieved on 31 July 2015. where he co-hosted the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2015 with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Uhuru Kenyatta
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta (born 26 October 1961) is a Kenyan politician who served as the fourth president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022.
Kenyatta was chosen by Daniel Arap Moi as his preferred successor, but Kenyatta was defeated by opposition le ...
has visited the U.S. on several occasions
Seeing off President Uhuru Kenyatta who will be attending the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington. Retrieved on 31 July 2015. whilst president. Former presidents Daniel Moi and Mwai Kibaki also visited the U.S. on several occasions.
President Bush Welcomes President Kibaki of Kenya to White House . Retrieved on 31 July 2015.First Lady of the United States
The first lady of the United States (FLOTUS) is the title held by the hostess of the White House, usually the wife of the president of the United States, concurrent with the president's term in office. Although the first lady's role has never ...
,
Melania Trump
Melania Trump ( ; born Melanija Knavs , Germanized as Melania Knauss ; born April 26, 1970) is a Slovene-American former model and businesswoman who served as First Lady of the United States from 2017 to 2021 as the wife of 45th president Do ...
, visited Kenya in October 2018, to promote health and education initiatives
Gallery
Moi and Bush.jpg, Daniel arap Moi
Daniel Toroitich arap Moi ( ; 2 September 1924 – 4 February 2020) was a Kenyan politician who served as the second president of Kenya from 1978 to 2002. He was the country's longest-serving president. Moi previously served as the third vice ...
, Kenya's second President, and George W. Bush.
Robinson Njeru Githae.jpg, Robinson Njeru Githae, Kenya's current ambassador to the US.
Uhuru Kenyatta with Obamas 2014.jpg, President Uhuru Kenyatta
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta (born 26 October 1961) is a Kenyan politician who served as the fourth president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022.
Kenyatta was chosen by Daniel Arap Moi as his preferred successor, but Kenyatta was defeated by opposition le ...
, with the Obamas.
See also
*
Kenyan Americans
Kenyan Americans are an ethnic group of Americans of Kenyan descent. As of the 2010 census, there were an estimated 92,638 Kenyan-born persons living in the United States. Most Kenyan Americans are concentrated in Seattle, Texas, Maryland, Georg ...
*
Foreign relations of the United States
The United States has formal diplomatic relations with most nations. This includes all UN member and observer states other than Bhutan, Iran, North Korea and Syria, and the UN observer State of Palestine, the last of which the U.S. does not rec ...
*
Foreign relations of Kenya
Kenya maintains relations with various countries around the world. Its closest ties are with its fellow Swahili-speaking neighbors in the African Great Lakes region. Swahili speaking neighbours mainly include countries in the East African Com ...
References
Further reading
* Azevedo, Mario. ''Kenya: The Land, The People, and the Nation'' (Carolina Academic Press, 1993).
* Branch, Daniel. ''Kenya: Between Hope and Despair, 1963–2011'' (Yale UP, 2011).
* Maxon, Robert M., and Thomas P. Ofcansky. ''Historical Dictionary of Kenya'' (2nd ed. Scarecrow Press, 2000).
* Rudolph, Laura C. "Kenyan Americans." ''Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America,'' edited by Thomas Riggs, (3rd ed., vol. 3, Gale, 2014, pp. 1–9)
online
External links
History of Kenya – U.S. relationsForeign Aid Explorer
- Searchable details of U.S. Foreign Aid
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kenya - United States Relations
Bilateral relations of the United States
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...