Nairobi, 17 November 2021 (TDI): The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, arrived in Nairobi today for his first official trip to Africa.
During a meeting with Kenyan officials at the State House, Blinken appealed for the preservation of democracy in politically and ethnically fractured societies across the African region.
The US State Secretary held a meeting with Kenya’s President, Uhuru Kenyatta, and other top officials in Nairobi. While commending Kenya’s democratic principles, Blinken called on the state to assist its neighbors that are currently facing political and humanitarian crises, particularly Ethiopia.
The officials also exchanged views on various issues of mutual concern, including climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic, regional peace and security, and making collective efforts to bolster economic growth.
Thank you, President Kenyatta, for hosting me in Nairobi. Our commitment to the U.S.-Kenya Strategic Partnership is stronger than ever. From COVID-19 to climate change, to fostering an inclusive, growing economy, meeting global goals is not possible without partners like Kenya. pic.twitter.com/LRxZI8CGon
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 17, 2021
In addition, the US State Secretary addressed the importance of combating ‘democratic recession’ worldwide which also includes the challenges faced by Washington.
Meanwhile, President Kenyatta expressed his gratitude towards the US government for making efforts to develop Kenya’s health sector. In this regard, he reiterated Nairobi’s aspiration to become a regional hub in terms of logistics and vaccines production.
Apart from the regional crisis, Blinken’s visit to Kenya is greatly aimed at enhancing Washington’s profile as a crucial player in the African region to restore peace, democracy, and human rights at large.
While in Kenya, Secretary Blinken also discussed the shared interests of Washington and Nairobi as members of the United Nations Security Council. The visit comes as part of his three-nation tour to Africa that includes trips to Nigeria and Senegal ahead.
