NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 3- Deputy President William Ruto is on Thursday expected to visit the White House, for a meeting at the National Security Council.
The Deputy President has since met US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee.
According to Ruto’s Presidential Campaign Director of Communication Hussein Mohammed, their talks, which were held on Wednesday, were based on five key areas that include; economic prosperity, defense cooperation, governance and civilian security, multilateral and regional issues, and health cooperation.
“You inspire us, as Kenyans, to also claim our space and be free from the many trappings that in the making of nation, becomes part of the struggle we have to go through,” the Deputy President said during a talk at Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland.
During the meeting, the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs committed to supporting Kenya, in her bid to, “safeguard democracy and advocating a free and fair election on August 9, 2022.”
The Deputy President urged the US and other traditional friends of Kenya, “to sustain their longstanding support to Kenya’s democratization and the conduct of a free, fair and credible election.”
He further underscored Kenya’s position as an anchor state for peace and stability in the East and Horn of Africa region but cautioned against political and economic exclusion that threatens the country’s revered status in the region, two issues he termed as core in the August 9, elections.
DP Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza counterpart Musalia Mudavadi further committed to a peaceful election on their part, while assuring the US of a steady and robust partner in the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Further, the Kenyan delegation thanked the US government for its continued support to the health sector, especially in the fight against HIV and AIDs, TB, Malaria and COVID-19.
The delegation also welcomed the planned US investment in vaccines production in Nairobi.
The US government meanwhile commended Kenya for its stand on Ukraine at the United Nations.
The bilateral talks were also attended by Governor Anne Waiguru, legislator Adan Duale and Head of International Relations for DP Ruto’s presidential campaign Ababu Namwamba.
After the US visit, the Deputy President and his delegation will go to the United Kingdom for a series of meetings and engagements.
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.
He will also visit Qatar.
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