Us vice president JD Vance has officially cancelled his planned visit to Kenya just weeks before arriving in Nairobi. The cancellation stems from orders by President Donald Trump barring US officials from attending the G20 Summit in South Africa. Kenya's government has reaffirmed its strong ties with the US despite the diplomatic shift.
Through a statement issued yesterday by the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the US government informed Kenya that Vice President JD Vance's visit, scheduled for the end of this month, will not take place. This decision resulted from orders by US President Donald Trump prohibiting American officials from participating in the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, where Vance was set to lead the US delegation before traveling to Nairobi.
“The Government of the Republic of Kenya, through the Prime Cabinet Secretary and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, has been informed by the Government of the United States regarding the cancellation of the planned visit to Kenya by the Vice President, Honorable JD Vance, scheduled for the end of this month,” the statement said.
Despite the cancellation, Kenya's government has shown composure and stability, reaffirming its long-standing relationship with the US. Vance's visit was expected to strengthen growing US-East Africa cooperation, with Kenya positioned as a regional pillar. He was slated to meet President William Ruto and senior officials for discussions on investment, security, and trade under the US-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership.
Talks were also anticipated to cover counter-terrorism, clean energy, education, and digital transformation. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi reaffirmed Kenya's faith in the long-term partnership.
“Kenya and the United States share a deep and historic relationship based on mutual respect, democratic foundations, and shared interests,” Mudavadi stated. “While scheduling changes occasionally occur in diplomacy, our partnership with the United States continues strongly across all sectors, from trade and security to education and technology.”
He added that Kenya remains committed to fostering strategic cooperation benefiting both sides and the region overall, with their pledge to effective dialogue and international collaboration unchanged.