NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 24- Deputy President William Ruto is set to meet senior government officials from the United States and the UK, during a 10-day visit to the two countries.
The Deputy President, who is seeking to become Kenya’s fifth President in the August 9 polls, will also meet Kenyans living in the two countries.
While there, Head of International Relations at his Presidential Campaign Secretariat Ababu Namwamba said Ruto, “will share his thoughts on foreign policy, democracy and governance, and expound his economic vision for Kenya and Africa.”
“DP Ruto is honouring invites by senior government officials and top policy institutes in Washington DC and London,” the former Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary said in a statement on Thursday.
While in the US, the Deputy President will meet, among others, officials of the State Department and the Pentagon as well as the US Government National Security Council (NSC) Advisor.
Still in the US, Namwamba said he will speak at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, and at the University of Arizona’s Washington Entrepreneurship hub.
“The USA leg trip will conclude with a meeting with the Kenyan diaspora,” he said.
In London, the Head of International Relations said he will meet senior UK government officials.
He is also expected to visit the National Counter-Terrorism Centre and speak at both the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House).
The Deputy President will also engage, Namwamba said, the Kenyan diaspora in the UK, and pay a courtesy call on the Archbishop of Canterbury, His Grace Justin Welby.
“Kenya remains a stable regional anchor state and a valued member of the global community, and the Deputy President’s trip seeks to further strengthen ties with the country’s traditional friends and partners,” he said.
Since he started campaigning, this DP Ruto’s first diplomacy tour to market his presidential bid abroad.
He is seeking to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta, whose second and final term is ending this year.
The two, once described as a dynamic duo by former President Mwai Kibaki, have since parted ways and the President declared his support for his newfound political buddy, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
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