US cancels Vice President JD Vance’s planned visit to Kenya

The US government announced it had canceled a planned visit to Kenya by Vice President JD Vance.

The visit was planned at the end of November, 2025. The cancellation follows President Trump’s directive barring state officials from attending the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi revealed on Monday that Kenya had been informed by the Government of the United States of America of the cancellation of the planned visit to Kenya by the Vice President.

“Kenya values its longstanding and strategic partnership with the United States, which continues to span key areas of mutual interest, including trade and investment, security cooperation, education, health, and diaspora engagement,” Mudavadi said in a statement.

He said Kenya remains confident that this development will not affect the strong and enduring ties between our two nations.

A topic that was expected to be on the agenda is the state of the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA), which expired on September 30, 2025.

It is however in place on a temporary basis.

The lapse of the trade agreement, of which Kenya was a beneficiary, sparked fears of massive job losses and reduced revenues. This could severely impact Kenya’s economy, with an extension not yet a guarantee.

President William Ruto has previously revealed that a one-year extension has been secured, but the US government is yet to officially confirm this.

The fate of AGOA, which exempted key exports such as textiles, tea and coffee from tariffs, is in the hands of the US Congress, as it is the only organ that can approve an extension.

Key to this would be extended lobbying by Kenya to the US Congress, with the support of Trump seen as crucial.
Aside from AGOA, another potential area of discussion is the Haiti mission, which was recently upgraded to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF).

For the past year and a half, Kenyan police officers led the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in the Caribbean nation, with the US supporting the mission.

After the expiry of Kenya’s mandate in the mission in October, 2025, the US backed a resolution seeking to transform it into a UN peacekeeping mission, guaranteeing increased funding and direct support from the UN.

Kenya’s role in the mission after its expansion, but Ruto had previously declared the country’s forces would only rejoin the mission if they were assured of increased funding and more resources.

A meeting with JD Vance could iron out such details, and potentially lead to the signing of an agreement that could maybe result in Kenya’s extended stay in Haiti.

The US has since sent armored personnel carriers to Haiti to boost operations there.

Earlier this year, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was set to visit Kenya as part of his African tour, but had to cancel his trip at the last minute.

On Monday, Mudavadi, reaffirmed Kenya’s confidence in the enduring partnership between Nairobi and Washington.

“Kenya and the United States enjoy a deep and historic relationship anchored on mutual respect, shared democratic values, and common interests,” said Mudavadi.

“While scheduling changes sometimes occur in diplomacy, our cooperation with the United States continues robustly across all sectors, from trade and security to education and technology.”

He added that Kenya remains focused on advancing strategic engagements that benefit both nations and the wider region.

“Our commitment to constructive dialogue and international collaboration is unwavering. Kenya will continue to be a reliable partner in promoting peace, prosperity, and shared growth,” he stated.

Diplomatic observers in Nairobi note that Kenya’s stature as a regional hub for peace, innovation, and global investment positions it well to navigate shifting international currents.

They also see this moment as an opportunity for Kenya to reinforce its leadership role on the continent, engaging multilaterally with both traditional and emerging partners.

The G20 Summit in Johannesburg, expected to spotlight global economic resilience and sustainable development, now proceeds without Washington’s delegation. Nonetheless, Kenya’s focus remains forward-looking, advancing African priorities and maintaining its steady course as a trusted voice in global diplomacy.

As one analyst put it, “Kenya is showing that true partnerships transcend single events, they rest on dialogue, respect, and a shared vision for prosperity.”