United States Vice President JD Vance is set to visit Kenya at the end of November, marking the first official trip by a high-ranking US executive since President Donald Trump took office. The visit seeks to solidify relations between Washington and Nairobi. Details of Vance's itinerary have not been made public.
According to a report by Africa Intelligence, Vance's visit is expected after the Group of 20 (G20) leaders' summit in South Africa, scheduled for November 22 to 23. The summit will focus on inclusive and sustainable development, climate change and energy transition, global financial reform, digital transformation and innovation, peace, security and multilateral cooperation, as well as health systems and pandemic preparedness. Kenya is not a G20 member, so Vance is likely to travel to Kenya following the summit.
The US-Kenya relationship is under scrutiny amid President Donald Trump's America-first policy, with envoys navigating diplomatic challenges to maintain bilateral ties. A key agenda item is expected to be the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA), which expired on September 30, 2025. AGOA provided tariff exemptions for Kenyan exports such as textiles, tea, and coffee. President William Ruto has stated that a one-year extension has been secured, though the US government has yet to confirm this. The act's fate lies with the US Congress, which must decide by year's end.
Another potential discussion concerns the Haiti mission, recently upgraded to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF). Kenyan police led the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti for the past year and a half, backed by the US. Kenya's mandate expired in October, and the mission is transforming into a UN peacekeeping operation with increased funding and UN support. Ruto has indicated Kenya would rejoin only with assured additional funding and resources. A meeting with Vance could resolve these details and lead to an agreement for Kenya's continued involvement.
No official confirmation has come from the Kenyan government regarding the visit. This follows the earlier cancellation of a planned trip to Kenya by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as part of his African tour.