Kenyan President Ruto seeks to strengthen ties with China during state visit

When Kenyan President William Ruto landed in Beijing seven months ago, he was greeted with a red carpet and Chinese troops. One of the aims of his three-day state visit in October was to secure an additional $1 billion in loans from China for infrastructure projects.

Upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews for another state visit to Washington on Wednesday, President Ruto was once again welcomed with a red carpet and troops. However, this time, a special envoy was there to meet his plane: first lady Dr. Jill Biden.

President Joe Biden is focusing on strengthening relations with Kenya this week by elevating the country's status to a major non-NATO ally, a first for sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, he will be hosting a state dinner on the White House South Lawn at sunset.

Amidst the ceremonial events, there is a growing concern over China's increasing presence in Africa. This continent has become a crucial battleground for economic and geopolitical dominance between the world's two largest economies.

Senior administration officials have acknowledged that one of the main reasons for scheduling a state visit with Kenya was to counter China's growing influence and financial power in Africa, which has surpassed that of the United States in terms of direct investment.

China has been providing high-interest loans to many low-income African countries for decades to assist them in financing development projects, including key infrastructure projects under China's Belt and Road Initiative. One notable example is the high-speed rail route from Nairobi to Mombasa, which the Kenyan government financed with billions in loans from Chinese state banks.

From 2000 to 2022, Beijing provided $170 billion in loans to African nations. This included $6.7 billion to Kenya for various initiatives, as reported by Boston University’s Chinese Loans to Africa database. Unfortunately, these loans have resulted in significant debt burdens for African countries, making it challenging for them to make timely repayments.

As a result, many nations are now struggling to service their debts, prompting them to seek relief from their lenders. This has put African countries in a difficult position, forcing them to decide between meeting their debt obligations and continuing to progress with their development goals.

"It's a challenging situation for them," mentioned a senior US official. "We hope they can achieve their goals on their own."

During the state visit, the US and Kenya will introduce the "Nairobi-Washington Vision," urging creditor countries - especially China - to offer grants, financial assistance, and debt relief to ease the financial strain.

Ruto is urging African leaders to rely more on Western nations and lower-interest loans from the World Bank for their development. "There's a growing weariness towards China in Africa," a former senior administration official noted. The administration views this as an opportunity to make a shift.

The US has already started taking advantage of this opportunity. During the Group of 20 summit last year, the US and the European Union announced their support for the development of a rail corridor connecting Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia. This corridor would make it easier to transport the region's important minerals back to the West.

During his meetings with Biden, Ruto has focused on highlighting Kenya and the rest of Africa as promising areas for investment. At a gathering of CEOs at the White House, he emphasized to his American counterpart that perceptions of the continent were evolving.

Ruto told the president during the meeting that Africa is now seen as a place of opportunity rather than war and destruction, according to a senior US administration official who summarized the leader's statement.

Ruto's visit to Washington coincides with political instability in many African countries, with military coups in the past year leading to the overthrow of governments and highlighting weak rule of law. Additionally, traditional American allies in Africa have shown a new willingness to distance themselves from the United States. One of the main aims of Thursday's state visit is to showcase the ability of democracies, such as Kenya's, to deliver for their citizens.

Biden, who previously welcomed African leaders to the White House for a summit, has been preoccupied with conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine since then. Following the December 2022 summit where he expressed his full support for Africa, he has only hosted one African leader, Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, for talks at the White House.

A senior administration official acknowledged this week that the past year and a half has been filled with global events. They highlighted the visits of various Cabinet secretaries and senior officials to Africa as evidence of the Biden administration's dedication to the continent.

Biden has been unable to visit Africa due to ongoing foreign conflicts. However, his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, mentioned that Biden still plans to travel to Africa during his presidency, although the timing is uncertain.

During a meeting at the White House with Ruto, Biden expressed his intention to visit Africa next year, assuming he is reelected.

Biden told reporters that he intends to travel in February. It's uncertain if Biden was joking, as he questioned the relevance of inquiries about his travel plans. However, a presidential visit to Africa would likely occur after Chinese President Xi Jinping's trip to the continent last year for discussions with BRICS leaders.

Advisers emphasize that Biden is committed to directing attention towards Africa, especially with the competition for influence from Russia and China. A stark contrast is noted with former President Donald Trump, who made derogatory remarks about some African countries and never visited the continent during his time in office.

The upcoming state visit to Washington on Thursday will mark the first visit by an African leader since 2008.

Sullivan mentioned on Wednesday that the US is demonstrating its commitment to Africa by delivering tangible results, specifically for Kenya and the broader continent. Biden's decision to visit Kenya on Thursday signals that he and his team consider Ruto and his country as key allies in a region where loyalties towards the US have changed.

Kenya has been a valuable ally to the US in fighting al-Shabab militants in Somalia and recently joined a coalition led by the US to protect Red Sea shipping lanes from Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Additionally, Kenya is getting ready to send 1,000 paramilitary police officers to Haiti to help control gang violence, with most of the funding coming from the United States.

This week, a group of Kenyan "command staff" has arrived in Haiti, as confirmed by a source in the country's law enforcement. They are here ahead of the Kenyan-led multinational security support force. Their main task is to evaluate whether the equipment and facilities for the foreign police forces are ready for deployment. This assessment will play a crucial role in determining the timeline for the mission, according to a source familiar with the preparations.

Despite receiving strong support from the US and other regional powers, the mission has faced obstacles such as uncertainty and legal challenges for several months. The process was further delayed after the resignation of former Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry in March, until the establishment of a transitional governing council.

"This is not a straightforward situation. Haiti's operating environment is constantly changing, so we need to be flexible and adaptable. However, we must still stick to our core functions and operations," Sullivan explained during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the growing geopolitical competition between the United States and China in Africa, with both countries seeking to expand their economic and political influence on the continent. China's significant investment in Africa, particularly through high-interest loans, has led to concerns over debt burdens and the potential erosion of African sovereignty. The United States, recognizing China's growing presence, is attempting to counter its influence by strengthening relations with key African countries like Kenya.

The article also sheds light on the challenges facing African nations in servicing their debts to China. Many countries are struggling to repay these loans, which has forced them to seek relief from lenders. The United States is urging creditor countries, including China, to offer debt relief and financial assistance to ease the burden on African nations. The article also discusses the political instability in many African countries and the Biden administration's commitment to promoting democracy and good governance on the continent.