Nairobi, Kenya, November 7-As the United States transitions to new leadership with Donald Trump elected as the 47th President, Kenya’s economic relationship with the U.S. is anticipated to remain stable, according to Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.
In response to questions on how Trump’s election might affect Kenya-U.S. relations, Mbadi reassured that Kenya’s economic and policy ties with the U.S. are likely to continue uninterrupted.
He also addressed concerns about whether Trump’s administration could impact previous discussions on debt support, particularly those raised during President William Ruto’s visit to the U.S. in May.
Mbadi underscored that U.S. foreign policy, especially towards Africa, tends to be consistent.
“American policy generally remains the same, regardless of whether a Republican or a Democrat holds the presidency. Policy toward Africa and economic engagement tends to stay stable, so I don’t foresee any significant shift,” Mbadi commented.
He congratulated the American people on the election, stating, “Whether that aligns with my preference is irrelevant. It’s the choice of the American people.”
Mbadi noted that Kenya’s main engagement with the U.S. happens through multilateral organizations like the World Bank, where U.S. contributions indirectly support Kenya and other African countries.
This focus on multilateral rather than direct bilateral aid means that changes in the U.S. administration generally have minimal impact on Kenya’s economic support.
“Our engagement with the U.S. is largely through multilateral platforms, with the U.S. supporting institutions like the World Bank, from which we benefit,” Mbadi explained.
“Even direct bilateral engagements would remain unaffected by the election results,” he added.
