President Ruto, Obama discuss Africa’s future in Washington meeting

According to a post-meeting statement from President Ruto, the discussions were highly productive and covered a wide range of topics, including democratic developments, climate change, and peace and security challenges across Africa.

“We exchanged views on democratic developments, climate, and peace and security challenges in Africa,” President Ruto shared following the meeting. 

Their discussions focused on Africa's burgeoning young population and its potential to drive innovation and growth. 

Both leaders emphasised the importance of capitalising on the demographic dividend by expanding opportunities in technology, innovation, and education.

“We reviewed opportunities available to Africa's young and dynamic demographic in tech, innovation, higher and technical education,” President Ruto noted. 

President Ruto is nearing the end of his historic four-day state visit to the United States, which included a meeting with President Biden. 

President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta on Monday afternoon, beginning a busy four-day trip to the United States.

This visit, the first by an African leader in 15 years, is expected to strengthen ties between Kenya and the United States while also providing new investment opportunities.

Ruto spent Monday in Atlanta, Georgia, visiting the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum to "emphasise the two countries' shared commitment to governance and anti-corruption efforts."

He then went to Ebenezer Baptist Church to pay tribute to the civil rights movement before heading to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) headquarters to discuss the US-Kenya health partnership.

The day concluded with Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto being hosted by the Kenyan diaspora in Atlanta.

Ruto began his Tuesday, while he was still in Atlanta, by going to Spelman College to highlight the importance of higher education, especially in science and technology, which is vital in luring investments.

He then went to Tyler Perry Studios to look into opportunities in the creative economy, before heading to Coca-Cola to make new investments.

President Ruto also opened Vivo's first store and, with Rachel Ruto, attended a dinner hosted by Andre Dickens, the state's mayor.

Ruto then flew to Washington, DC, on Wednesday, where he received "full ceremonial state honours," met with a congressional delegation, and held discussions on Capitol Hill.

On Thursday Ruto and Reachel will lay a wreath at Arlington Cemetery to honour dead American soldiers and historic figures and later hold a bilateral meeting with President Biden to highlight development opportunities.