How the United States of America is putting Ruto’s 2027 re-election at risk

Recent developments indicate a big shift in the relationship between Kenya and the United States of America, raising concerns about the future of President William Ruto’s administration. This shift has not gone unnoticed, with many political analysts now suggesting that the US has started to distance itself from Ruto.

If this trend continues, it could harm Ruto’s leadership and even lower his chances of being re-elected.The United States has always played a big role in Kenya’s politics.

Over the years, America has shown clear interest in who becomes Kenya’s president. It is widely believed that the US has had strong preferences in past elections, often going against Raila Odinga, the long-time opposition leader.

Some insiders claim that Raila actually won the popular vote in two different elections but never made it to State House because of America’s hidden hand. These allegations have always floated around, especially during tight election contests.

In the last general election, US support for Ruto was quite visible. The then US ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, was very active during the election period.

She was seen engaging with various institutions and making statements that signaled support for a peaceful and credible process, which many interpreted as a sign that Washington wanted Ruto to win.

This was seen as a continuation of America’s usual influence, but this time backing a different candidate. Ruto was seen as the new partner for the United States in the region.

But things have changed. The current ambassador, Mark Dillard, has kept a much lower profile. He has been less active in political affairs, making fewer public statements and avoiding major political engagements.

This sudden silence is unusual and raises questions about whether the US still sees Ruto as an important partner. An even stronger sign came when the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, canceled his visit to Kenya in April.

The visit was supposed to strengthen ties between the two countries, but it was called off, supposedly due to scheduling conflicts caused by Ruto’s visit to China.

However, many observers believe it was a quiet message from the US that relations are cooling off.The biggest concern for America seems to be Ruto’s new friendship with China.

During his visit to Beijing, Ruto called Kenya and China “co-architects of a new world order.” This did not sit well with American leaders.

Some lawmakers, like Senator James Risch, openly questioned whether Kenya was still loyal to the United States. They warned that moving closer to China could hurt Kenya’s standing in Washington.

The US sees China as a threat and believes that its global ambitions go against Western values like democracy and human rights. By praising China’s leadership, Ruto is seen as drifting away from the US camp.

The situation is also linked to changes in American leadership. Under President Biden, there was stronger interest in Africa. Kenya was viewed as a key partner in efforts to improve trade, security, and development in the region.

But as the US-China rivalry grows, countries like Kenya are being forced to choose sides. Ruto seems to be trying to remain friendly with both powers, but that approach is not winning him favor with Washington.

His interactions with Russia and China during sensitive global issues have only made matters worse.The US expects its allies to show commitment. When a leader appears to be playing both sides, trust begins to break down. In the case of Ruto, his actions have caused uncertainty about Kenya’s position in global politics.

The future of his presidency looks less secure, both at home and internationally.