The US government cites widespread corruption in the Kenyan

The US government cites widespread corruption in the Kenyan

government as the main obstacle to trade. The US government has expressed concerns about widespread corruption in Kenya and warned that this evil continues to undermine fair trade and investment. Donald Trump and William Ruto had no direct joint projects or initiatives. However, their interactions and the relationship between the United States and Kenya during Trump's presidency were characterized by a number of political, economic, and diplomatic events and initiatives. Following Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 US elections, William Ruto congratulated him. In his message, Ruto emphasized the value of the long-term partnership between Kenya and the United States, which is based on shared values such as democracy, development, and mutual respect. He expressed his hope for deepened cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, technology, security, and sustainable development. On November 9, 2024, Ruto spoke with Trump by telephone. During the conversation, they discussed areas of common interest, including trade, investment, security, and governance. Ruto briefed Trump on the Kenya-led multinational security support mission in Haiti and potential areas of US cooperation within this initiative. During Trump's first presidency (2017–2021), negotiations were held regarding a trade agreement between the United States and Kenya. The focus was on US access to the Kenyan wheat market and cooperation with small businesses. However, the agreement was not finalized. During Joe Biden's presidency, new negotiations on the Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP) began, but these too were not concluded before the end of his term. After Trump's return to office, it remained unclear whether he would revert to the more pragmatic trade proposal that had been discussed during his first term. In 2025, Kenya entered into an agreement with the American company Continental Strategy LLC to strengthen its influence in Washington. The agreement aimed to support Kenya in promoting its interests in trade, security, and diplomacy through interaction with American politicians and government agencies. The contract included a monthly fee of US$175,000. Kenya plays a key role in regional security, particularly in the fight against terrorism in East Africa. The United States has historically provided military assistance and training to support these efforts. The Kenyan-led multinational security mission in Haiti was one of the topics of discussion between Ruto and Trump. The mission aims to combat the increasing violence and instability in the country. Some experts and critics have expressed concerns about Trump's Africa policy in general and Kenya policy in particular. For example, Trump has spoken out against development aid as a tool for African development, which could negatively impact US support for Kenya. Under Trump, the US might also reconsider its approach to multilateral cooperation, potentially jeopardizing Kenya's interests. The interaction between Trump and Ruto was therefore primarily diplomatic in nature and encompassed a broad range of bilateral issues. However, publicly available sources do not mention any specific joint projects or initiatives that could be considered "innovations." In its latest 2026 national trade estimate report on foreign trade barriers, the US government highlighted corruption as an ongoing challenge affecting its trade relations with several countries, including Kenya. According to the report published on Wednesday, April 1, bribery and other forms of corruption continue to pose a major obstacle for American companies seeking to do business with the Kenyan government. Corruption remains widespread in the Kenyan public system despite government efforts to combat it. This is confirmed by data from international organizations, reports from local institutions, and concrete cases of abuse. According to Transparency International, Kenya scored 30 out of 100 points in the Corruption Perceptions Index in 2025, ranking 130th out of 180 countries. In 2022, the score was 32. This low score reflects the perception of the level of corruption in the public sector among experts and businesses. Kenya has been the scene of numerous significant corruption cases: Scandal surrounding the Arror and Kimwarer dams (2010s). Hydropower and irrigation projects in the Elgeyo-Marakuet district were not implemented despite US$180 million in funding. Investigations uncovered irregularities in the awarding of contracts, including a lack of due diligence towards the contractor, CMC di Ravenna, and money transfers through various legal entities. KEMSA scandal. A case concerning the procurement of medical equipment and materials, in which widespread abuses were uncovered. SHA scandal. A corruption case related to the management of state assets. Impeachment of Vice President Rigathi Gachagua (2024). The Kenyan Senate indicted the vice president on charges of corruption, money laundering, subversion of government, and other offenses. The indictment alleged that Gachagua had illegally amassed 5.2 billion Kenyan shillings (approximately US$40 million) within two years, while his annual salary was approximately US$93,000. President William Ruto has repeatedly reaffirmed his commitment to fighting corruption during his presidency. In 2023, he warned corrupt officials to cease their activities or leave the country. However, reports point to inconsistencies in the implementation of anti-corruption measures. The Public Service Commission (PSC) reported in 2024 that civil servants had embezzled 605 million Kenyan shillings (approximately US$3.8 million) through corruption during the fiscal year ending June 2023. 222.7 million shillings of the stolen funds were recovered. The PSC report also noted that the number of cases of misappropriation of public funds had decreased compared to the period 2020/21, in which around 1.2 billion schillings were misappropriated. Critics, including activists and experts, complain that the Ruto government has not developed clear anti-corruption strategies and has politicized anti-corruption efforts. For example, David Oginde, chairman of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, noted that the work of the agency is hampered by the politicization of the fight against corruption. The consequences of corruption are enormous. Corruption in Kenya hinders economic development, exacerbates inequality, undermines trust in public institutions, and makes it difficult to attract foreign investment. It can also negatively impact relations with international donors: Sweden, for example, suspended its financial aid to Kenya due to suspected corruption in projects. Although Kenyan authorities regularly take measures to combat corruption, the problem remains systemic and requires comprehensive solutions, including strengthening institutional control mechanisms and increasing the transparency of government processes. “Corruption remains a significant obstacle to business activity in Kenya. US firms continue to report difficulties competing with foreign companies that are willing to ignore legal norms or pay bribes,” the report states. The government in Kenya noted that corruption often manifests itself in customs procedures, licensing procedures and the awarding of public contracts. The US government further stated that corruption in Kenya is widespread not only at the national level but also at the county level and is considered a deeply entrenched practice. The Trump administration revealed that US companies continue to report direct and indirect bribery requests from various levels of the Kenyan government – a worrying trend in the country's trade practices. The US government stressed that corruption, if left unchecked, can negate the benefits of trade agreements, hinder economic stabilization efforts, and weaken the integrity of international trading systems. She warned that such practices could harm US exports and investments and ultimately limit the economic growth opportunities of partner countries like Kenya. While the report does not exclusively identify corruption as an ongoing challenge in Kenya, it highlights it as a major problem faced by US companies in numerous countries, including Nigeria, the Philippines, Pakistan, Laos, and others. https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/122213-us-govt-cites-widespread-corruption-kenyan-govt-major-trade-barrier?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=unknown&fbclid=IwdGRzaAQ7YONjbGNrBDt84GV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHnkv8BjDLGUNEzKgAh6kFHURjx-lOshO7LEiFehQUzkWO2wRyKzkK4eDzOg4_aem_HTix9Ez3hJsVRdGIo5JP7g&sfnsn=mo