US assures Kenya despite Uhuru’s love for China

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Even as President Uhuru Kenyatta seemingly looks East for most of the country’s trade deals, the new US Ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter, has vowed that his country will enhance improved relationships between the two nations.

McCarter added that Kenya’s business engagement with China will not affect trade deals with the US.

“The US is not comparing itself with China or any other, we have not changed the way we do business, it is like before. We are focused on competitively with a payback that does not become a burden to Kenya and one that trains for the future,” he said during his maiden address to the press.

“Other countries and deals have nothing to do with us, we will do it the right way.” McCarter was responding to a question on whether the US is competing with China in as far as doing business is concerned.

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His remarks come in the wake of heightened speculation over the deal brokered last week,when President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga attended the second Belt and Road forum in China.

McCarter however said more deals are in the offing between the US and Kenya as both countries gear up to the Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (BSD), a joint commitment by Uhuru and his US counterpart, Donald Trump last August.

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The BSD will be hosted next week in Washington DC and will rotate annually between the two capitals. The dialogue encompasses the breadth of the full bilateral strategic partnership.

The US delegation is led by Assistant Secretary for Africa Affairs Tibor Nagy, with discussions centred upon economic prosperity, defence cooperation, democracy and governance as well as regional issues.

The ambassador also pointed out the major construction of Nairobi-Mombasa highway through Bechtel Engineering Company deal, McCarter said the US will not be bringing people from abroad to work.

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He said 70 per cent of the workforce will be drawn from Kenya and under the leadership of Bechtel.

According to him, doing business with the US will help end corruption at all levels, adding that US companies are subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practises Act, which means Kenya and US department of Justice will ensure the business is conducted without graft.

McCarter assured that the US Government, NGOs and private entities contribute over Sh1trillion each year in heathcare, agriculture, education and security among others when responding to a question on Bechtel deal to Kenya’s debt.

He also called upon President Uhuru to continue with the fight against corruption saying the US is prepared to use all the tools at its disposal to end impunity of those who engage in the vice.

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