Kenya Embassy Washington D.C.

Remarks by His Excellency Dr William Samoei Ruto, PhD., C.G.H., President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces During a joint press conference with President Joe Biden – May 23rd, 2024, White House, Washington D.C.

1. I thank you most sincerely, Mr. President, for inviting me to make this state visit to the United States. On behalf of the people and government of Kenya, I also take this opportunity to express deep gratitude for the warm welcome we received on arrival, and the excellent hospitality of the American people.
2. My visit provides us with the opportunity to celebrate 60 years of bilateral relations rooted in shared values of freedom, democracy, rule of law, equality and inclusivity.
3. My visit takes place at a time when democracy is perceived to be retreating worldwide. The accelerating drift towards regimes indifferent to democratic values is a deep concern to us and I believe it is time the US, working with Kenya, deploys its capabilities and rally like-minded democratic countries to step up the course for democracy.