Mudavadi meets US top diplomat Marco Rubio in Washington, days after China visit
Mudavadi's Washington stopover follows his April visit to Beijing, where he met top Chinese officials to discuss infrastructure financing, trade, and Kenya's possible interest in deeper BRICS engagement.
Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi held high-level talks in Washington on Wednesday with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in what appears to be part of Nairobi's effort to deepen strategic alignment with the United States, just weeks after President William Ruto's state visit to Beijing, China.
The meeting, held at the US Department of State, focused on regional security, trade expansion, and the advancement of diplomatic cooperation.
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It comes at a time when Kenya is increasingly being courted by both Eastern and Western powers as a gateway to East Africa and a partner in continental security.
"We emphasised the need to fast-track the Kenya–US Free Trade Agreement," Mudavadi said in a statement on Thursday.
He also briefed the US side on regional peace efforts led by the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which currently involves five African heads of state.
Kenya and the United States continue to build on decades of shared values and strategic cooperation.
— Musalia W Mudavadi (@MusaliaMudavadi) May 8, 2025
In Washington, D.C., I held a high-level meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State, Senator @SecRubio, where we discussed regional peace and security, expanded trade and… pic.twitter.com/B2TIpvEstl
Rubio, who has been a vocal proponent of US-Africa engagement under a values-based framework, reaffirmed Washington's support for Kenya's leadership in promoting regional stability, democratic governance, and the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti.
He also expressed a desire to visit Nairobi, signalling a further deepening of diplomatic ties.
Rubio cancelled his African tour, which included Nairobi as his first stop.
The meeting highlights Nairobi's attempt to recalibrate its strategic positioning between the West and China.
Mudavadi's Washington stopover follows his April visit to Beijing, where he met top Chinese officials to discuss infrastructure financing, trade, and Kenya's possible interest in deeper BRICS engagement.
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