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President William Ruto stands on the brink of making history as the first Kenyan Head of State to address a joint session of the United States Congress, with May 23, 2024, tentatively set for this momentous occasion, pending approval from the Speaker of the House.
In a formal request dispatched to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Republican member of Congress, Mike Johnson, President Ruto’s potential address aims to underscore Kenya’s active involvement in shaping Africa’s future and fostering peace and stability in the region. As articulated in the invitation letter, “It is crucial for members of Congress to understand how Kenya’s active participation in Africa’s future and beyond is vital for peace and stability in the region and aligns with the broader economic and strategic interests of the United States.”
Awaiting the green light, the process involves a formal extension by the Speaker of the House on behalf of the House and Senate leadership. Echoing past invitations to distinguished figures, the pending approval reflects the esteemed precedent set by the invitation extended to His Holiness Pope Francis Holy See of Rome in 2015.
“It is my honor as Speaker, and on behalf of the bipartisan leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, to extend to you as head of state of the Holy See an open invitation to appear before and address a Joint Meeting of the two houses of Congress assembled in the Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives,” the letter read in part.
Joint sessions of Congress, typically reserved for esteemed foreign leaders, require meticulous coordination between the House and Senate leadership. As stated by the Congressional Research Service, these sessions are “invitation only,” with decisions on invitations and timing collaboratively reached between both chambers.
Joint sessions of Congress have become more frequent post-World War II. Notable figures who have graced these sessions include former South African President Nelson Mandela, ex-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Should President Ruto’s address come to fruition, it would signify a significant milestone in Kenyan-American relations. As President Ruto prepares to potentially address the joint session, Kenya’s growing prominence on the global stage is raised, promising closer collaboration and mutual benefit between the two nations.
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