The United States of America secretary of state Mr. Antony Blinken has lauded Kenya for spearheading peace and climate change initiatives in Africa and across the globe.

In a meeting held with Kenya’s President Dr. William Ruto in New York, Mr. Blinken commended Kenya’s efforts to avert crisis in Sudan, the deployment of Kenyan security forces to help maintain peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Kenya has also promised to send a security task force to the war-torn nation of Haiti to help establish law and order. To help a proposed international force led by Kenya restore security to conflict-torn Haiti, the Biden administration pledged $100 million and pushed other countries to also contribute to the towards the cause.

The secretary of state also commended Kenya’s role in leading the climate agenda in Africa. Kenya recently hosted the Africa Climate Summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi

The Secretary of State further commended Kenya for leading the climate action agenda in Africa. The United States of America committed USD 20 million to help in the acceleration of climate resilient food security in Africa.

Kenya and the United States of America share common goals in climate change advocacy, security and counterterrorism, development and trade. Kenya is Africa’s leading exporter of textiles and apparel to the United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

 The African Growth and Opportunity Act was passed in 2000, and has been at the centre of US economic strategy and trade cooperation with Africa. In addition to the more than 5,000 products eligible for duty-free access under the Generalized System of Preferences, AGOA grants qualified sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the US market for more than 1,800 products.

Countries must build or make consistent progress toward establishing a market-based economy, the rule of law, political pluralism, and the right to due process in order to pass AGOA's stringent eligibility standards. In addition, nations need to remove obstacles to American commerce and investment and implement measures to fight corruption, end poverty, and uphold human rights.