Ruto meets Biden as US seeks to counter Chinese influence in Kenya

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NEW YORK - The US seeks to counter the Chinese influence in Kenya’s infrastructural development partner. This comes at the backdrop of Kenya’s President Dr William Ruto meeting with US President Joe Biden in New York on Thursday.

Kenya’s head of state is winding up his New York trip that saw him take part in the 77th United Nations General Assembly.

Dr Ruto tweeted through his Twitter handle saying that, “Kenya will continue expanding its strategic partnership with the United States of America to advance peace and prosperity in Africa. With Rachel at a reception hosted by the @POTUSduring the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, New York.”

Both Dr Ruto and Biden have championed an almost similar economic revival model of bottom up. US president Joe Biden earlier this week revealed that trickle-down economics was not working and has never worked for any country across the globe.

Biden said his administration will continue building the country's economy from the bottom up and middle out. The trickle-down theory states that tax breaks and benefits for corporations and the wealthy will trickle down to everyone else to spur economic development.

The bottom-up economy model was adopted by President Dr William Ruto while campaigning for the country’s top seat.

The slogan ‘Kazi ni Kazi’ got the youth hooked up and voted for him because he promised to lift those living below a dollar a day.

“The bottom-up economic model is a blueprint where we target to promote investments of ordinary Kenyans and empowering them financially so the country can generate taxes to spur the economy.”Dr Ruto said while campaigning in the month of July.

Thie Ruto-Biden meeting comes just a day where Kenya’s head of State was hosted at dinner by the US Chamber of Commerce in New York on Tuesday evening.

Dr Ruto pointed out that Kenya is ready for enhanced trade and investment, having demonstrated the maturity of its democracy in the recent elections.

He further said Kenya has strengthened its democratic foundations which make it a safe destination for business and investments.

“Investors can predict the future of Kenya because it is a democratic country. We have demonstrated, as the people of Kenya, that the rule of law underpins public affairs,” the President said.

The meeting was one of the many key events the President is attending during the UN General Assembly week in New York.

President Ruto and his delegation engaged with the US Chamber of Commerce on how the business community in Kenya and the US can partner in supporting the Government’s development plan.

The President also attended talks on fertiliser production and green energy to boost Kenya’s agricultural sector, job creation and economic resilience.
President Ruto was also a guest of honour at the Africa Investment Partnership Forum hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Tuesday evening.

Discussions at the forum centred on positioning Africa to move away from aid to investment. The meeting was attended by leaders from the private sector, representatives of international development organisations and diplomats from across the globe.

The 77th UNGA coincides with the worst drought in the Horn of Africa with many countries in the region including Kenya experiencing unprecedented effects in the last forty years.

Government statistics and data from UN agencies show that 3.5 million Kenyans are in dire need of food.

On top of Dr Ruto's agenda at the UN meeting was to hold discussions with world leaders on fertiliser production and green energy aimed at enhancing Kenya’s agricultural production.

GAROWE ONLINE

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