US Lawmakers Extend Rare Invitation for Ruto to Address Congress

The US House Committee on Foreign Affairs has formally proposed to Speaker Mike Johnson to extend an invitation to Kenyan President William Ruto to address a joint session of the US Congress.

This prestigious platform could provide President Ruto with an opportunity to articulate his vision on the global stage. The request, timed to coincide with President Ruto's state visit to Washington later in May, was put forth by Committee Chairman Michael McGaul and Ranking Member Gregory W Meeks. The proposed invitation holds particular significance as 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Kenya. The lawmakers believe that extending such an invitation would underscore the importance of the bilateral relationship and also send a strong message of support to the people of Africa.

If Speaker Johnson accepts the request, it would mark a historic moment, as it has been 18 years since an African President last addressed the US Congress. The last African leader to do so was former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who used the occasion to narrate her country's emergence from a devastating civil war. Analysts suggest that this invitation could be interpreted as a vote of confidence in Kenya's new leadership under President Ruto. This development comes at a time when Washington has been grappling with the challenge of rallying its traditional allies.

Kenya is emerging as a potential leading ally of the US in Africa, particularly significant given the current geopolitical landscape where South Africa is adopting positions that are perceived as antagonistic to the US. Notably, Nigeria is grappling with democratic backsliding and domestic unrest, and Egypt is wavering in its leadership role in the Middle East and Africa. David Monda, a Professor of Political Science at the City University of New York, views this as a major foreign policy victory for President Ruto, an unprecedented achievement since Kenya's independence in 1963.

However, he also notes that this means President Ruto's speech will need to be carefully calibrated. At the start of his presidency, President Ruto had issued a challenge to African nations to transform their ways. This upcoming address to the US Congress could be a crucial moment in that regard as he articulates his vision for Africa on a global platform.