US Foreign Affairs Committee Requests President Ruto To Address Congress

A formal request has been issued to the United States Speaker of the House of Representatives and Republican member of Congress Mike Johnson; for President William Samoei Ruto to address a joint session of Congress.

In the letter, House Foreign Affairs Committee Member Gregory Meeks and Committee Chairman Michael McCaul sought to have President Ruto address the joint session of Congress on or about 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,” wrote the members.

If invited, President Ruto would be the first Kenyan head of state to address a joint session of Congress.

He would also become the first African head of state to address Congress since former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf eighteen years ago.

“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,” reads part of the statement.

This comes hot on the heels of the 60-year anniversary of the U.S.-Kenya diplomatic relationship.

The United States is among Kenya’s largest trading partners, with Kenya boasting a top utilization rate of U.S. market access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

“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 two added.