United States Vice-President James David Vance has cancelled his planned visit to Kenya, marking an unexpected diplomatic turn just weeks before his scheduled arrival.
In a statement issued Monday afternoon by the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Kenya confirmed that Washington had called off Mr Vance’s visit, which was set to take place later this month.
The statement attributed the cancellation to a directive by US President Donald Trump barring American officials from attending the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, where Mr Vance was to lead the US delegation before proceeding to Nairobi.
“The Government of the Republic of Kenya, through the office of Musalia Mudavadi, the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, has been informed by the Government of the United States of America of the cancellation of the planned visit to Kenya by … JD Vance, which was to take place later this month,” read the statement.
The move, seen as part of President Trump’s evolving foreign policy posture, has drawn international attention, highlighting his administration’s scepticism towards multilateral engagements. Despite the abrupt development, Nairobi maintained a calm and diplomatic tone, reiterating that the partnership between Kenya and the US remains strong and mutually beneficial.
Mr Vance’s visit had been expected to reaffirm Washington’s growing engagement with East Africa at a time when Kenya is positioning itself as a regional hub for innovation, stability, and trade. During the visit, he was to hold high-level meetings with President William Ruto and senior government officials to discuss trade, investment, and security under the US–Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership — a framework aimed at expanding commercial ties beyond the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
He was also set to engage Kenya on cooperation in counter-terrorism, clean energy, education, and digital transformation — areas that have long formed the backbone of US–Kenya collaboration.
Kenya reassures of strong ties
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the cancellation does not undermine the longstanding relations between the two nations. “Kenya and the United States enjoy a deep and historic relationship anchored on mutual respect, shared democratic values, and common interests,” he said.
“While scheduling changes sometimes occur in diplomacy, our cooperation with the US continues robustly across all sectors — from trade and security to education and technology,” he added.
Mr Mudavadi reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships that drive regional and global growth. “Our dedication to constructive dialogue and international collaboration is unwavering. Kenya remains a reliable partner in promoting peace, prosperity, and shared development,” he stated.
His remarks underscored Kenya’s balanced foreign policy approach amid shifting global alliances. The ministry further clarified that bilateral programmes will continue uninterrupted and that both governments are working on new dates for high-level engagements.
The upcoming G20 Summit in Johannesburg is expected to focus on global economic resilience, sustainable development, and Africa’s growing role in shaping world markets. The absence of an American delegation underscores the Trump administration’s preference for bilateral diplomacy over multilateral forums, reflecting its “America First” stance.
Still, officials from both Nairobi and Washington have assured that working-level engagements will proceed as planned.
Kenya and the United States share more than six decades of cooperation spanning trade, education, and security. The US remains one of Kenya’s largest trading partners and a key ally in counter-terrorism efforts across the Horn of Africa. Thousands of Kenyans living and working in the US continue to strengthen the nations’ people-to-people connections through remittances and professional exchanges.
For Nairobi, the development offers an opportunity to reaffirm its independent yet cooperative foreign policy stance. The government appears intent on maintaining equilibrium between long-standing Western partnerships and emerging alliances with countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Although Mr Vance’s cancellation has delayed anticipated high-level talks, officials in the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs said it has not weakened Kenya’s resolve to deepen ties with Washington. The directive by President Trump, they added, has only reaffirmed the importance of continued dialogue and diplomatic balance in a rapidly changing global environment.
