US President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on Thursday, February 26 spoke with President Uhuru Kenyatta on phone.
The US Embassy in Nairobi says that President Joe Biden affirmed the importance of the strong U.S.- Kenya bilateral relationship.
Biden, who was sworn in on January 20, also emphasized the United States’ continued commitment to working closely with Kenya to support regional peace and security, including at the United Nations Security Council.
“The President [Joe Biden] applauded Kenya’s leadership in the Horn of Africa and commitment to counterterrorism, economic growth, addressing climate change, and sustainable development,” a statement from the White House says.
The two leaders also discussed the deteriorating humanitarian and human rights crises in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Both emphasized the need to prevent further loss of life and ensure humanitarian access.
The leaders also discussed the need for cooperation on other matters of regional stability.
President Uhuru expressed confidence that the conclusion of the ongoing negotiations for a Kenya-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will help further strengthen the strong economic ties between the two countries. Kenya is the fourth largest trading partner of the US in Africa.
Kenya and the US launched the FTA negotiations on 8th July 2020 with the objective of reaching a comprehensive trade pact that can serve as a model for similar agreements in Africa.
Once again, Uhuru thanked his American counterpart for the support Kenya continues to receive from the United States of America in sectors such as Healthcare, Economy, Security and Governance, and assured President Biden of the Kenyan Government’s strong commitment to continue working closely with the new US administration.