William Ruto Gives Richard Quest Unexpected Answer After Being Asked If Kenya Is Pro-China Or US

• During President William Ruto's state visit to the United States, Kenya was designated as a non-NATO ally, indicating a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties
• Ruto highlighted Kenya's strategic approach as maintaining balanced relations with both the US and China to maximise opportunities
• Ruto's statements in an interview with CNN indicate that Kenya intends to remain non-partisan, leveraging partnerships with both global powers to advance its national interests

Elijah Ntongai, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, has more than three years of financial, business, and technology research expertise, providing insights into Kenyan and global trends.

President William Ruto completed his state visit to the United States, during which Kenya was designated the USA's non-NATO ally.

Ruto's state visit to the US came seven months after he visited China, where he held talks to boost Kenya-China relations and secured $1 billion in loans from China to help complete infrastructure projects.

Hoping to counter the growing Chinese influence in Africa, the US is hoping to woo Kenya with various economic and military investments.

Is Kenya pro-China or US?

Despite the historic US state visit, Ruto dismissed claims that Kenya's relationship with China could be affected following his visit to the United States of America.

Speaking during an interview with CNN, Ruto remained adamant that Kenya would not take sides in bilateral relations with countries in the East and those in the West, referring to the US, China, and their allies.

Richard Quets, an American journalist, asked Ruto what his preference was if he was to choose between investments by American or Chinese companies.

“Many people want to pull us to a conversation to whether we are facing east or west, let me tell you, we are neither facing west nor east, we are facing forward, because that is where the opportunities are,” Ruto clarified.

Why USA organised state visit with Kenya

In an interview with CNN, US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman acknowledged a central factor in scheduling a state visit with Kenya was the desire to counter China's influence and financial leverage on the African continent.

“For many, many years, it was really the Chinese who showed up in Africa and in Kenya,” Whitman told CNN.

With the first state visit for an African leader in nearly two decades, Whitman said,

“There’s a specific message to Kenya and to the continent, which is: America wants to be your partner.”

Based on the response given by Ruto on bilateral relations, it is clear that Kenya intends to remain non-partisan to US or Chinese interests and leverage its position to move the country forward regardless of who it partners with.

Deals Kenya signed in US state visit

Following the US state visit, Ruto and his entourage brought back home multimillion-dollar investments and deals.

The head of state secured funding support for key projects, including the construction of the Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway and the Affordable Housing scheme.

Others included deals like the KSh 23 billion Coca-Cola investments that will see a KSh 175 million new beverage plant built in Nairobi.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke