Positioning Kenya as Eastern Africa’s StrategicPartner to Donald Trump’s Presidency

Executive Summary

This brief examines strategies that Kenya can adopt to strengthen Kenya-United States of America (USA) relations following the election of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the USA. Under President Biden, Kenya enjoyed robust ties with the USA, marked by milestones such as President Ruto’s state visit to USA, support for Kenya’s leadership in the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) to Haiti, and Kenya’s designation as a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA). However, President Trump’s return to office introduces uncertainties, given his transactional policies, pragmatic approach to Africa, and “America First” agenda, which prioritizes USA interests. Since his inauguration on January 20, 2025, President Trump has signed several executive orders that signal a major shift in USA policy. These include the declaration of a national border emergency to address illegal immigration, withdrawal of the US from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Paris Agreement and establishing the External Revenue Service to tax foreign countries. He has also emphasized that partnerships with the USA will be value-based, necessitating Kenya to re-strategize to safeguard and advance its strategic partnerships with his administration. This brief therefore recommends that Kenya should prioritize investments in infrastructure that align