US First Lady Jill Biden to Visit Kenya This Week

United States First Lady Jill Biden will arrive in Kenya later this week as part of her visit to Africa.

The tour, which begins on Wednesday and concludes on Sunday, will see Mrs. Biden visit Namibia and Kenya as the White House looks to strengthen ties with the region.

It will be the first visit by a White House principal this year to sub-Saharan Africa and comes ahead of an expected visit by President Joe Biden and other senior administration officials later this year.

“The purpose of her trip is to reaffirm the US government’s investments in Africa, not just in their governments, but in their people and to continue her work to empower women and young people,” a senior administration official previewing the trip said.

Another senior administration official said the visit is a demonstration of Biden’s commitment that the US is all in on Africa and all in with Africa.

The US first lady will arrive on Wednesday in Namibia, where her visit will focus on the role of young people in continuing to shape their democracy and advance health cooperation.

She will then fly to Nairobi, where food insecurity and the impact of drought in the Horn of Africa will be front and center as she aims to “draw attention to what is a dire and immediate food crisis that cannot wait for further intervention and mobilization from the international community,” the official said.

She will also meet with the first ladies of the two countries and engage with organizations that work on youth engagement and women’s empowerment, including issues relating to gender-based violence.