White House to Kenya: This is what Trump told Uhuru on phone Tuesday

juma chrispinus

March 8, 2017 8:49 AM

A statement from the highly guarded White House also said that the rare telephone conversation focused on “economic partnership and mutual dedication to overcoming terrorism.

The US President Donald Trump moved to silence earlier speculations that his administration, which is touting ‘America First’ mantra, would mean a strict handling of the Kenyan government.

Through a phone conversation late Tuesday with President Uhuru Kenyatta, Trump’s White House has said in a statement that the US leader strictly sought to "reaffirm the strong bilateral relationship between our two countries.”

A statement from the highly guarded White House also said that the rare telephone conversation focused on “economic partnership and mutual dedication to overcoming terrorism and other regional security challenges through close cooperation.”

“President Trump expressed appreciation for Kenya’s significant contributions to the African Union Mission in Somalia and recognized Kenyan troops’ sacrifices in the fight against al Shabaab,” the statement said in part.

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The Tuesday's on-phone-discussion also highlighted on “ways of boosting bilateral trade and investment in Kenya and the broader East Africa region.”

Since his taking office, President Trump has been keen on fighting terrorism, recently banning migrants from six most Muslim dominated countries. Kenya’s neighbouring al Shabaab’s home Somalia, also received the jab, sparking rage from the newly elected president, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, a dual citizenship holder from the US and Somalia.

Earlier, when the Trump phoned the presidents of Nigeria and South Africa, there were speculations that the shuttle diplomacy by Kenya accounted for his skip.

A source in Washington tried to suggest at the time that “a failure of Kenyan diplomacy” accounted for Trump's omission of President Uhuru Kenyatta from his initial Africa call list.

Last month, Kenya's Deputy Chief of Mission to Washington David Gacheru said in statement that “a telephone conversation between President Kenyatta and President Trump is already in the works and should be taking place within a short time frame.

juma chrispinus