U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau is in Kenya for a two-day official visit as part of his broader regional tour to Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti from January 24 to February 1, 2026.
During the visit, Landau held talks with President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi, on January 29, 2026.
The discussions covered bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest, including security, peace, and humanitarian aid.
On efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism in Somalia, Deputy Secretary Landau emphasized the need to reassess strategies and enhance support for Somalia after more than two decades of stability challenges.
The leaders also addressed the ongoing civil war in Sudan, which has caused devastating loss of life, widespread infrastructure destruction, and a severe humanitarian crisis affecting seven million people in need of food, water, and medicines.
Kenya pledged logistical support to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and essential supplies.
Kenya remains at the forefront of restoring peace and order both regionally and globally. President Ruto expressed gratitude for U.S. support in transitioning the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti into a more robust Gang Suppression Force, including the provision of necessary equipment and vehicles.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening this already robust relationship, with a focus on health, trade, and security cooperation.
President Ruto highlighted the KSh208 billion Kenya-US Health Cooperation Framework signed last year, the first of its kind under the America First Global Health Strategy, as a signature example of the excellent ties between the two countries and governments.
“The agreement is a government-to-government deal that is a major shot in the arm for the delivery of our universal healthcare program and bypasses traditional NGO intermediaries,” President Ruto stated.
He was pleased to note that bilateral trade is mutually beneficial and balanced, providing numerous opportunities for the private sector to thrive.
“In 2024, Kenya exported goods worth $737 million to the US, while US exports to our country were worth $771 million, contributing to a total bilateral trade of approximately $1.5 billion.
“In health matters, President Ruto assured Kenyans that under the five-year framework, the U.S. pledges up to $1.6 billion to support programs addressing HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and Malaria.
Also what dominated the discussion was the maternal and child health, and infectious disease preparedness, while Kenya commits to increasing its domestic health spending by $850 million.
President Ruto appreciated the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for the next three years following its expiry in September last year.
AGOA allows duty-free and quota-free access for goods and products from thousands of African exporters into U.S. markets.
Bilaterally, negotiations on a comprehensive trade agreement have made significant progress, covering tariff reductions, digital trade, and investment opportunities to further empower the private sector.
This high-level engagement underscores the deepening strategic partnership between Kenya and the United States in addressing shared global and regional priorities.
