Uhuru and Obama to meet at US-Africa Conference in Washington DC

The star 

President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to meet US President Barack Obama in August, US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec has confirmed.

Speaking during the launch of the new Chevrolet Trailblazer at the Nairobi Club Tuesday night, Godec said Obama had invited President Uhuru to join him at the first US-African Leaders’ Summit.

“The President will use the summit as another great opportunity to deepen the five decades’ relationship that has existed between the two great countries,” said Godec.

According to Godec, the meeting between the two presidents is meant to strengthen economic ties between the United States and Kenya.

“Promoting trade investments in Kenya remains a top goal commitment for my government, thus the two meeting will be a milestone for the two economies,” he said.

Godec dismissed claims that the US had issued travel warnings to its citizens and planned changes of personnel at its Embassy, terming them as unfounded rumours.

“Let me be clear: We have not evacuated any citizens; we have not advised Americans against visiting Kenya; we have not banned travel here. The US Embassy is here to stay. The US Government is here to stay. And US business is here to stay,” said Godec.

Godec reiterated that the Embassy will continue to connect US and Kenyan businesses and to assist those interested in using the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) to export duty-free to the US.

He said the Embassy was also working to strengthen Kenya’s health sector through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar) and many other programmes.

“We support efforts to expand access to low-cost, renewable energy in Kenya and to provide technical assistance to improve the Mombasa Port, to make regional trade more efficient and less costly.

“We have sent 46 young Kenyans to the United States, as part of President Obama’s Young African Leaders’ Initiative, or YALI, where they will receive training at major American universities to improve and fast-track economic growth”, he said.

The envoy noted that US investment in Kenya alone is $300 million, with $1 billion in two-way trade, adding that American companies have the talent, the technology, and the products to succeed in Kenya.