Fingers easily point East, specifically to a trip to Beijing, China, where President William Ruto appeared to drop his diplomatic guard, declaring Kenya and China as “new world order partners.” “Kenya and China are not merely trade partners; we are co-architects of a new world order—one that is fair, inclusive, and sustainable,” President Ruto said on April 23, 2025. 

 The question now is: What does Kenya stand to lose if diplomatic ties with the United States (U.S.) are downgraded?

In Washington, the Biden administration designated Kenya as a major non-NATO ally, a status that carries significant weight and privilege in Western circles. President Ruto’s speech at Peking University in Beijing raised eyebrows in Washington, especially as this seemed unusually enthusiastic for a leader whose country holds a strategic alliance with the U.S.

President Ruto’s statement drew immediate attention from U.S. officials, including Senator Jim Risch, Chairperson of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “Many African nations maintain troubling ties. Just last month, President Ruto—a major non-NATO ally—named China and Kenya as key architects of a new world order,” Senator Risch noted on May 15, 2025.  The Senator raised concerns over whether Kenya had misused U.S. security and intelligence assistance in ways that may undermine the Western country’s interests, including the repression of civilians. The proposed amendment includes an assessment of the government of Kenya’s use of US security assistance and intelligence support.

 (Source: Citizen Digital)