Two senior members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee have formally requested that Speaker of the House Mike Johnson invite President William Samoei Ruto of Kenya to speak before a joint session of Congress.
Gregory Meeks, a member of the committee, and its chairman, Michael McCaul, outlined their request in a letter, proposing that President Ruto’s address coincide with his official visit to the United States around the 23rd of this month.
“We are writing to respectfully request that you extend a formal invitation to the President of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency William Samoei Ruto, to address a joint session of Congress on his official visit to the United States,” the committee members wrote in their letter.
Should President Ruto be invited, he would be the first Kenyan president to speak to a joint session of Congress.
This would also mark the first time an African head of state has addressed Congress in nearly two decades, the last being former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
The letter emphasizes the significance of Kenya’s role in Africa and its strategic importance to the United States.
“It is crucial for members of Congress to understand how Kenya’s active participation in Africa’s future and beyond is vital for peace and stability in the region and aligns with the broader economic and strategic interests of the United States,” the letter reads.
This development coincides with the 60th anniversary of the U.S.-Kenya diplomatic relationship, highlighting the enduring ties between the two nations.
Kenya is among the largest beneficiaries of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), enjoying significant trade benefits with the United States.
Additionally, the U.S. maintains a strategic military presence at Manda Bay, supporting counter-terrorism operations in the region.
“Moreover, the United States maintains an overseas military base at Manda Bay, on the Indian Ocean, to support operations to counter terrorist threats from Al-Shabaab.
These are just some examples of the close ties forged between our nation and Kenya over the past six decades,” the letter concludes.
