US sets timeline to review Kenya’s NATO-ally status, cites terror links and China ties
The review will examine Kenya’s cooperation with the US in fighting extremism, maintaining security in Sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti
The United States has outlined a clear timetable to investigate Kenya’s alleged links to al-Shabaab and review its status as a Major Non-NATO Ally a designation it received on June 24, 2024.
According to the Congressional Record Vol. 171, Senator James Risch has proposed an amendment to a major defense bill for the 2026 financial year.
Once the bill becomes law, the US Secretary of State, working with the Secretaries of Defense and Treasury and the Director of National Intelligence, will begin the review within 90 days.
A classified report of the findings will be sent to Congress within 180 days of the law’s enactment.
The review will examine Kenya’s cooperation with the US in fighting extremism, maintaining security in Sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti, and its role as an economic partner.
It will also assess Kenya’s military, political, and financial relationships with China, Russia, and Iran, detailing any agreements or joint actions since June 2024. Trade ties with China, including Kenya’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and its debt obligations, will be scrutinized.
The US will also look into Kenya’s alleged links with non-state armed groups and extremist organizations, such as Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces and al-Shabaab.
In addition, investigators will review whether Kenya provides financial safe havens for individuals and groups under US sanctions, including those in Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, and Somalia.
Another area of focus will be how Kenya uses US security and intelligence assistance, and whether it has been involved in human rights abuses like abductions, torture, and violence against civilians.
President William Ruto has defended his close ties with China, highlighting the removal of tariffs on Kenyan tea, coffee, and avocados as a major win for farmers. China, already Kenya’s largest supplier of goods worth over Sh 600 billion annually, remains a key economic partner despite concerns from traditional allies like the US.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has welcomed the US review, saying there is a real need to investigate alleged cases of police brutality, abductions, and killings under Ruto’s administration.
