WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator James E. Risch, a senior Republican and ranking member of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has introduced a bill aimed at reviewing Kenya’s designation as a major non-NATO ally (MNNA), just over a year after the status was conferred.
Senator Risch submitted the proposal on August 1, citing concerns over Kenya’s growing alignment with U.S. adversaries—particularly China, Russia, and Iran—as well as the country’s human rights record and its use of American security assistance.
The bill, if passed, would compel a comprehensive review of Kenya’s strategic value as a U.S. ally. It highlights the need to assess how U.S. intelligence and military support is being used, particularly in regard to allegations of abductions, torture, renditions, and violence against civilians.
“Relying on leaders who embrace Beijing so openly is an error. It’s time to reassess our relationship with Kenya and others who forge tight bonds with China,” Risch said during a Senate hearing in May titled “East Africa & The Horn: At a Turning Point or Breaking Point?”
The hearing saw Senator Risch questioning the effectiveness of long-standing U.S. engagements in the region, including what he called the “marginal returns” from the U.S.-backed creation of South Sudan. He took particular issue with recent remarks by Kenyan President William Ruto, who in June described China and Kenya as “co-architects of a new world order.”
“That’s not just alignment to China; it’s allegiance,” the senator declared.
The move to re-evaluate Kenya’s MNNA status aligns with broader shifts under President Donald Trump’s second term, marked by an “America First” policy that questions the strategic value of longstanding alliances. Under President Joe Biden, Kenya was granted MNNA status in June 2024 during Ruto’s state visit to Washington—a visit that also cemented Kenya’s leadership of the now-defunct international mission to Haiti.
But Trump’s return to office in January 2025 has seen a reversal of several Biden-era foreign policy decisions, including the withdrawal from Haiti, the shuttering of USAID offices in Kenya, and the imposition of a sweeping 10% tariff on all imports, including those from traditional allies.
While the MNNA status carries symbolic weight and access to certain military and financial benefits, its revocation would have minimal immediate economic impact. Nonetheless, such a move would signal a deeper strategic cooling between Washington and Nairobi—long considered key partners in regional stability and counterterrorism.
For decades, Kenya has pursued a delicate geopolitical dance, balancing Western partnerships with economic ties to Eastern powers like China and Iran. China, in particular, remains one of Kenya’s largest trading and infrastructure partners. As such, Nairobi has resisted fully aligning itself with either bloc.
However, critics say Kenya has made miscalculations. Notably, its tacit support for Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has backfired, resulting in deteriorating relations with Sudan’s ruling army and a retaliatory ban on Kenyan tea exports. Meanwhile, Kenya’s role as a regional diplomatic hub has diminished, with warring factions now choosing neutral grounds like Doha over Nairobi for peace talks.
Internally, Kenya is under scrutiny for rising incidents of state-sponsored abductions and enforced disappearances. Human rights groups and opposition leaders allege that the government has employed counterterrorism tools—once used to support U.S. interests—against its own citizens amid growing public unrest over economic hardship.
The Risch bill questions whether U.S. intelligence and aid have indirectly enabled these abuses, noting the shift from fighting transnational threats to suppressing domestic dissent.
While the bill signals rising concern in Washington, analysts say a full diplomatic rupture remains unlikely. Severing or downgrading ties could open the door for greater Chinese influence—something the U.S. has been working to prevent across Africa. China, already entrenched economically, may seek to expand its role into the security sphere.
For Kenya, which is headed toward a pivotal 2027 general election, a potential shake-up in U.S. relations could seem alarming. But it may also present an opportunity: a chance to recalibrate its foreign policy posture and refocus on domestic governance, economic resilience, and human rights.
Whether Nairobi heeds that moment of reflection—or continues its balancing act—may determine its future standing on the global stage.
About The Author
