President Ruto jets back after 4-day U.S State visit

President William Ruto has arrived back in the country after a 4-day State visit to the United States where he was hosted by his counterpart Joe Biden.

He was received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by Head of Public Service Felis Koskei, Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki and his Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome and Kenya Air Force Commander Major-General Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed among others.

The President previously stated that Kenyans will benefit from the multi-trillion shillings deals with the U.S. in various sectors that include trade, health, security, infrastructure, education and technology. 

He also secured funding for various sectors and military aid from his United States visit with his administration's planned deployment of police to Haiti a key issue in the discussions he held with US President Joe Biden. 

“We want to move Africa from an opportunity to investment, we do not need aid, we want to combine the technology of the US in benefiting youth through the creation of jobs,” Ruto said during an interview with CNN.

The visit also marked 60 years of official U.S.-Kenya partnership.

The proposed construction of Ksh.471 billion, 440 kilometres Nairobi - Mombasa dual carriage expressway tops a long list of multi-trillion shillings investments President Ruto secured during his 3-day State visit.

Kenya is set to become the first sub-Saharan African nation to be accorded a Major Non-NATO Ally designation.

The designation granted by the United States to countries with close and strategic working relationships with the U.S. military and defence civilians.

Kenya is also set to receive 16 U.S.-manufactured helicopters, 8 Hueys and 8 MD-500s, between late 2024 and summer 2025 to bolster its ability to provide regional peace and security and participate in peacekeeping missions.

In addition, 150 M1117 Armoured Security Vehicles from U.S. Excess Defense Article stocks are projected to arrive in Kenya in September 2024.

The country has further secured USD 2 billion worth of deals inked by Google, Marathon Digital Holdings, Acorn Holdings Limited, Siemens Healthineers, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Kenyan company M-Kopa, Semiconductors Technologies Limited, and Microsoft.