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| US Vice President JD Vance |
The planned visit of United States Vice President JD Vance to Kenya has been officially called off due to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, a decision confirmed by Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi.
In an official statement, Mudavadi explained that the cancellation of Vance's trip was a result of an order from U.S. President Donald Trump. The president had instructed that no U.S. government officials would attend the upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. As Vice President Vance was scheduled to lead the U.S. delegation to the summit before heading to Kenya, this decision effectively made his visit to Nairobi unfeasible.
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| US Vice President JD Vance |
“The Government of the Republic of Kenya, through the office of H.E. Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, E.G.H., Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, has been informed by the United States government about the cancellation of Vice President JD Vance’s planned visit to Kenya,” Mudavadi stated. The visit had been scheduled for later this month but has now been postponed indefinitely due to the changes in U.S. diplomatic priorities.
The cancellation is linked to the larger context of the ongoing government shutdown in the U.S., which has created significant disruptions to official diplomatic travel and commitments. Vice President Vance, who was initially set to attend the G20 Summit in South Africa as a key member of the U.S. delegation, was to proceed to Kenya afterward as part of a broader diplomatic mission in the region.
Despite the setback, Mudavadi emphasized that the strong relationship between Kenya and the United States remains intact. The Prime Cabinet Secretary reassured the public that the cancellation would not impact the longstanding partnership between the two nations, particularly in key sectors such as trade, investment, security cooperation, education, health, and diaspora engagement.
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| US Vice President JD Vance |
This visit had been particularly notable, as it would have formed the first visit by a senior member of the U.S. Executive to Kenya since the second term of President Trump began. The expected visit by Vance was seen as a milestone in the relationship between the US and Kenya, emphasizing the importance of their cooperation.
The cancellation is a disappointment to those who were expecting the visit; however, it has not deterred both countries from continuing to develop their ties that are becoming increasingly closer in many spheres.
