US Congress Speaker Mike Johnson Cancel Ruto’s Planned Address

Hopes have been dashed for the highly anticipated address to a joint meeting of Congress by President William Ruto after Speaker Mike Johnson declined the request.

Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and ranking Democrat Gregory Meeks (N.Y.) urged Johnson on April 30 to extend an invitation for Ruto to address a joint meeting.

“Such an invitation would underscore the importance of the U.S.-Kenya relationship and send a valuable signal to the people of Africa,” McCaul and Meeks wrote.

Scheduling Restraints

The speaker’s office has since issued a statement saying the request has been declined owing to scheduling restraints.

“Speaker Johnson welcomes President Ruto to the Capitol. We have offered the Kenyan embassy over 90 minutes of engagement including a one-on-one visit with Speaker Johnson, bipartisan leadership meeting with Speaker Johnson, Leader Jeffries, and Committee Chairmen and Ranking members, and a bicameral meeting. Unfortunately, due to scheduling restraints, we could not accommodate a request for remarks before a Joint Session.” Raj Shah, Johnson’s deputy chief of staff said.

Historic

President Ruto could have made history in the United States if the request to the Speaker could’ve been approved granted. He would’ve been the first Kenyan head of state to address a joint session of Congress, and the first African head of state to address Congress since former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf eighteen years ago.

In their letter to the Speaker, McCaul and Meeks said such an invitation would underscore the importance of the U.S.-Kenya relationship and send a valuable signal to the people of Africa. “

They said U.S.-Kenya relations continue to deepen, encompassing strong political, economic, technological, and cultural ties.

The letter notes that The United States is among Kenya’s largest trading partners, and Kenya is one of Africa’s most dynamic economies, boasting a top utilization rate of U.S. market access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

This year marks the 60-year anniversary of the U.S.-Kenya diplomatic relationship. Nearly 100,000 Kenyan-Americans call the United States home.

The Congressmen also pointed out that the United States maintains an overseas military base at Manda Bay, on the Indian Ocean, to support operations to counter terrorist threats from Al-Shabab. These, they said, are just some examples of the close ties forged between the US and Kenya over the past six decades.

“It is crucial for members of Congress to understand how Kenya’s active participation in Africa’s future and beyond is vital for peace and stability in the region and aligns with the broader economic and strategic interests of the United States,” concludes the letter to Speaker Johnson.

Liberia’s former president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf did so eighteen years ago and used the occasion to tell of her country’s rise from the ashes of a deadly civil war.

“Indeed, Kenya is a linchpin in heading off Russia’s influence in eastern Africa. It’s a stable democracy and a gateway to the region. The United States is its largest export market,” a U.S. publication noted.

Several foreign leaders have appeared before a joint meeting of Congress lately. Most recently, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida addressed lawmakers and a slew of aides who were called in at the last minute to fill empty seats. Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol have all spoken to a joint meeting during the last couple of years.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is also supportive of Ruto addressing Congress.

Reactions

The cancellation of the address by the speaker has been met with harsh criticism mostly from Democrats leadership who have slammed him for not valuing Kenya as a key ally in Africa.

“Disgraceful.  Rather than strengthening relationships with our allies, once again the Pro-Putin caucus shows its true colors by denying a critical East African ally a chance to address Congress. The Kenyan people & President Ruto deserve far more respect.” Congresswoman Barbara Lee slammed.

NEAL STATEMENT CALLING FOR JOINT SESSION WITH KENYAN PRESIDENT WILLIAM RUTO

Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement calling for a Joint Session of Congress with Kenyan President William Ruto and blasting Speaker Johnson’s failure to recognize the importance of this diplomatic relation:

“Africa and its people helped shape our great nation, allowing it to become the superpower that it is today. Strengthening ties across the continent, including with a key strategic partner, Kenya, is of great importance to our shared economic aspirations and democratic values. The continent deserves the same level of respect given to our partners in other parts of the world. This Congress, the Republican leadership has invited Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and President Yoon Suk Yeol to address joint meetings of Congress during their official visits to the United States, and I see no reason why President William Ruto’s upcoming state visit should be any different. Even in times of great tragedy and global conflict, the Congress has historically shown a depth of focus, and amid appliance acts, there should be time to recognize the importance of President Ruto’s visit.

“I had the privilege of hosting former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, where we spoke about the great opportunities to strengthen relations between our two economies present, and since then, Kenya has only continued to demonstrate its commitment to reaffirming our 60-year partnership. With the Biden Administration already rising to the rightful occasion by hosting a state dinner, the Congress must do the same.”

President Ruto is scheduled to visit the United States on an official state visit on May 23, 2024, the first time in two decades that an African president has been accorded a state visit in the US.