William Ruto Gives Details of His Phone Call with Donald Trump's Aide: "Strengthening Relations"
- President William Ruto engaged with US State Secretary Marco Rubio on the phone on Tuesday, August 19
- Their engagements centred on the strengthening of Nairobi's relations with the US at a time when some members of Congress have expressed concern about Kenya's apparent shift to China
- At the same time, Ruto and Rubio deliberated on the sustenance of the mission to arrest anarchy in Haiti, and the situation in Eastern DRC
President William Ruto has divulged having an engagement with United States Secretary Marco Rubio over the phone.
Source: Getty Images
On Tuesday, August 19, the president and Rubio deliberated on the state of Kenya's relations with the United States.
What did Ruto and Rubio talk about?
In an apparent move to reaffirm Nairobi's commitment to the relations with the US, Ruto restated Kenya's readiness to preserve the existing ties and strengthen them further in the areas of mutual benefit.
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"I have had a telephone conversation with the U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, Marco Rubio, on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues. At the bilateral level, we underscored the importance of strengthening Kenya–U.S. relations and agreed to deepen cooperation for the long-term benefit of our people and nations," the president said.
Ruto's affirmation to Rubio came months after a US senator sought to probe Kenya's blossoming relations with China, which seemed to dislodge the US from Nairobi's diplomatic strategies.
Elsewhere, the duo deliberated on the state of security in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Haiti.
Ruto championed the need for a sustained fight against anarchy in Haiti through such measures as the establishment of a support office to bolster the undertakings of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission.
"We concurred on the imperative and support for a resolution at the UN Security Council that establishes a UN support office for the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti, to aid efforts to stabilise and secure Haiti," he said.
The crisis in the Eastern DRC was also on the agenda during Ruto and Rubio's phone conversation.
He informed the US state secretary that the parties spearheading the peace efforts had resolved to combine the Nairobi and Luanda Peace Processes to expedite the initiatives toward peace.
"We also discussed the EAC–SADC intervention in Eastern DRC, reaffirming our shared commitment to regional peace and sustainable security," the president said.
Ruto's call with Rubio came days after the Kenyan president hosted senior officials from the US government.
Inside Ruto's meeting with US govt officials
Carla Benini, the acting US ambassador to Kenya, reaffirmed the country’s importance to Washington, describing the bilateral relationship as rooted in mutual principles.
Source: Twitter
The US Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires also highlighted robust cooperation in sectors such as renewable energy, agriculture, digital innovation, and the creative industries.
Ruto welcomed the strengthened ties, noting that Kenya now generates 90% of its energy from renewable sources and is working toward full reliance by 2030.
He also emphasised Kenya’s leadership in climate initiatives across Africa, pointing to the upcoming Africa Climate Summit in Ethiopia as a platform to unify the continent’s approach to sustainability and innovation.
Ruto further expressed optimism about partnerships with US states like California, which he said would open doors for Kenyan youth through access to global markets, mentorship opportunities, and technology exchange.
He stressed that combining Silicon Valley’s technical prowess with Africa’s ingenuity could spur job creation, fuel innovation, and promote inclusive growth.
Meanwhile, the president seems to be netting far and wide to benefit from ties with the US and countries in the east.
What Ruto said about Kenya's relations with China
He recently defended Kenya's relations with China, affirming that the country’s strengthened relationship with Beijing is a deliberate move aimed at advancing national interests, even if it unsettles traditional partners like the US.
Ruto stood by his administration’s active collaboration with China, highlighting that multiple trade and investment deals had already been finalised for the benefit of Kenya.
He acknowledged that some global allies had voiced unease, but emphasised that the benefits of the China partnership were too significant to forgo.
He reiterated that Kenya’s foreign policy is driven by economic priorities rather than alignment in global power struggles.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
