WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the upcoming meeting between President Joe Biden and Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta:
“Kenya is an important strategic partner and strong U.S. ally in East Africa, and though it’s long overdue, I’m glad President Biden is finally meeting with an African leader at the White House. From the U.N. Security Council to counterterrorism operations in the region, it is encouraging to see President Kenyatta working with the United States on several fronts.
“I remain concerned, however, about deep government corruption, ongoing incidents of intercommunal violence in several parts of the country, and increasing debt to China. Kenya is also preparing for a contentious election with a potentially violent ethnic dimension in 2022. Finally, I am closely monitoring how Kenya uses its position as president of the U.N. Security Council in October to elevate the issues related to the crises in Ethiopia. The Biden Administration should make these issues front and center in discussions with President Kenyatta and other senior Kenyan officials this week.”
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