WILL RUTO’S PRO-WEST GAMBLE BACKFIRE?

Donald Trump kicks off his second term as US president with an uncertain agenda regarding Africa.

Kenya's status as a key non-NATO ally hangs in the balance, with rumours swirling around that Trump plans to withdraw the US from the military alliance.

The East African nation's strong ties with Washington were solidified during William Ruto's extravagant state visit to the US in May 2024, when former president Joe Biden revealed that Congress would move to officially recognise Kenya as a major non-NATO ally. This shift signified Nairobi's departure from a 60-year policy of non-alignment, which had allowed it to reap benefits from both Western and Eastern powers.

The African Stream team recently discussed Ruto’s rejection of pan-Africanism in favour of subservience to imperialism in light of the evolving geopolitical landscape in 2025 - here’s an excerpt.

Should Kenya take its cue from the anti-imperialist Alliance of Sahel States and unilaterally abandon its non-NATO ally status?

Sources:

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/biden-designates-kenya-as-major-non-nato-ally/3257243

https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/world/africa-faces-uncertainty-in-donald-trump-2-0-season-4893236

https://www.businessinsider.com/what-would-happen-us-leaves-nato-trump-2025-1

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/24/major-non-nato-ally-what-does-bidens-new-kenya-pledge-mean