US Presidential Delegation to Attend Ruto’s Swearing-in Ceremony

US President Biden has announced that a presidential delegation will attend President-elect William Ruto’s inauguration ceremony in Nairobi on Tuesday.

In a statement, the White House said the five-member presidential delegation will be led by United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai.

Other members are U.S Ambassador to Kenya Margret Whitman, U.S. representative from Texas Colin Allred, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs Mary Catherine Phee, and Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Monde Muyangwa.

Last week, Biden congratulated Ruto after the Supreme Court validated his victory in the August 9th presidential election.

Through the White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Biden also lauded the people of Kenya for maintaining peace throughout the electioneering period.

“We congratulate William Ruto on his election as President of Kenya. We also congratulate the people of Kenya on the conclusion of a peaceful electoral process,” Jean-Pierre said during a media briefing at the White House.

Biden reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening the long-standing partnership between the US and Kenya “based on a commitment to democracy, security and economic prosperity.”

Ruto, who won the election after garnering 7,176,141 votes (50.49 percent of the total votes cast), will be sworn in on Tuesday alongside Deputy President-elect Rigathi Gachagua.

At least 20 African heads of state and governments and some 2,500 VIPs are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, according to Interior PS Karanja Kibicho.