Wamuzi News Ke
In a bold and defiant response that has sent ripples through the diplomatic world, Kenya has hit back at the United States over criticism of its deepening ties with China, declaring that it is not switching sides — it’s expanding its global influence.
The statement, made in a fiery letter to U.S. Senator Jim Risch by Kenyan Foreign Affairs official Koech, comes days after heated remarks during a U.S. Senate hearing questioning Kenya’s current foreign policy direction.
“Kenya is not being drawn. Kenya is coming up,” Koech declared, shattering any notion that Nairobi is abandoning its decades-old alliance with Washington.
The U.S., through Senator Risch — chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee — had sounded the alarm over what appeared to be a growing closeness between Nairobi and Beijing.
But Kenya isn’t having it.Koech’s sharp rebuttal tore into that narrative, warning against selective memory.
“You ignore the strength and sacrifices of our partnership. We’ve been allies — not just in name, but in action — from counterterrorism to humanitarian aid.”
He listed Kenya’s frontline role in peacekeeping missions like Somalia and Haiti, and its status as a major non-NATO U.S. ally — one of the rare few on the African continent.”This is not betrayal.
This is sovereignty,” Koech emphasized, describing Kenya’s push for a fairer global system where Africa isn’t sidelined, but leads.
He reminded Washington of the immense support Kenya has received from U.S. programs like PEPFAR, the CDC, and USAID — partnerships that have transformed lives in health, education, and technology. U.S. giants like Microsoft, Google, and Coca-Cola still thrive in Kenya’s fast-growing economy.
But the crux of his message was crystal clear: strengthening ties with China isn’t an act of defection — it’s a step toward building a future where Africa has a seat at the table.
Referencing President William Ruto’s remark calling China and Kenya “co-architects of a new world order,” Koech said this was a rallying cry for African empowerment, not a rejection of the West.
In a surprising twist, he compared Kenya’s calls for global reform to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s own agenda, saying, “Just like Trump demanded fairness in global institutions, Kenya too is demanding a system that works for all.”
Koech called for climate justice tailored for the Global South and trade policies that empower African industry — not punish it. “These are not anti-Western ideas. These are pro-African ideals,” he stated.
Ending on a powerful note, Koech challenged the U.S. Senate to come to Kenya and witness firsthand a nation charting its own path — not under anyone’s shadow.“
If there must be a reassessment of our foreign policy, let it be one rooted in mutual respect — not suspicion,” he said.This isn’t a shift in allegiance.
It’s a rise in ambition. And Kenya wants the world to know — it’s not choosing sides. It’s choosing strength.
