US Eyes Kenya Critical Minerals Sector as Ruto Pushes Local Processing
In a statement, the U.S. Department of State said the two leaders discussed commercial diplomacy and regional peace and security.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
The United States and Kenya have held talks on cooperation in the critical minerals sector, with U.S. firms expected to play a role in value addition for minerals produced in Kenya.
The discussions were held when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met President William Ruto on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday, September 19.
In a statement, the U.S. Department of State said the two leaders discussed commercial diplomacy and regional peace and security.
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Kenyan President William Ruto to discuss commercial diplomacy and regional peace and security,” the department said.
“They spoke about how critical minerals opportunities in Kenya can position the country as a key player in the sector while presenting opportunities for U.S. firms to provide value addition.”
The talks point to growing U.S. interest in Kenya’s mineral resources, with an emphasis on investment along the value chain rather than extraction and export of raw minerals.
The meeting comes days after President Ruto announced that Kenya will no longer export raw materials for processing outside the country, insisting that investors must set up plants to process and add value to minerals locally.
That push was backed by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia at the American Chamber of Commerce Business Summit in Nairobi on September 9.
“American companies are not here to extract and ship. That is not partnership, that is extraction,” Garcia said.
“We want processing done right here on the ground in Kenya, not thousands of miles away,” he added.
Besides minerals, the talks also covered trade, security, technology and development.
President Ruto welcomed the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), noting it would strengthen trade between Africa and the United States and expand economic opportunities.
On security, Rubio described Kenya as a vital U.S. partner in the region, citing its status as a major non-NATO ally and the growing trade relationship between the two countries.
The two leaders also discussed regional peace and security, including sustaining the security mission in Somalia, supporting stability in Haiti, and responding to the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
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