President William Ruto on Monday welcomed a high-level delegation from California at State House Nairobi, led by California Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin. The delegation also included US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Carla Benini and representatives from the private sector.
The visit underscored the strong partnership between Kenya and the United States, with California, America’s wealthiest state, emerging as a key partner in innovation, sustainability, and economic growth.
“Kenya and the United States enjoy strong national and sub-national ties, with California being a vital partner in innovation, sustainability, and shared prosperity,” President Ruto said. He highlighted that California’s leadership in technology and climate innovation, combined with Kenya’s “Silicon Savannah” and its vibrant, tech-savvy youth, creates unmatched opportunities for collaboration.
Discussions during the meeting centered on advancing clean energy systems, smart agriculture, artificial intelligence, trade, and sustainable transportation. This includes the upcoming Africa Clean Transportation Centre of Excellence in Nairobi. Kenya’s renewable energy leadership also featured prominently, with the President noting that the country currently operates a 93% clean energy grid, aiming for 100% by 2030 and a target of 100 gigawatts by 2040.
Chargé d’Affaires Carla Benini praised Kenya’s leadership in AI and agricultural innovation, drawing parallels with California’s priorities in smart farming, renewable energy, and the creative economy.
“When we engage in Africa, Kenya is our first point of focus due to our shared commitment to the rule of law and democratic values,” she said.
The visit comes amid growing scrutiny in Washington over Kenya’s expanding economic ties with China. US senators have recently questioned Kenya’s designation as a Major Non-NATO Ally due to deepening trade relations with Beijing.
In response, President Ruto defended Kenya’s engagement with China, announcing that Beijing had agreed to remove all tariffs on Kenyan tea, coffee, avocados, and other agricultural exports. “While this has raised concerns among some of our partners, accessing this market aligns with Kenya’s national interests,” he noted.
The State House meeting marked another step toward deepening Kenya-US cooperation, with both sides committing to long-term partnerships in innovation, clean energy, and sustainable development.
