IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1254 

Recognizing the strategic importance of Kenya to the United States and 

celebrating the 60-year anniversary of United States-Kenya relations. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 23, 2024 

Mrs. CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK (for herself, Mr. JAMES, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. JACOBS, Mr. BUCHANAN, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, and Mrs. KIM of California) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the strategic importance of Kenya to the United 

States and celebrating the 60-year anniversary of United 

States-Kenya relations. 

Whereas the United States and Kenya established diplomatic 

relations on May 23, 1964, after Kenya gained independence in 1963, and have since developed a strong and enduring bilateral partnership; 

Whereas bilateral engagement between the United States and 

Kenya expanded after Kenya’s historic 2002 general elections, when a coalition of opposition parties won the elections, ending decades of one-party dominance; 

Whereas Kenya took steps to bolster its democratic institutions in 2010 in the wake of the devastating 2007–2008 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•HRES 1254 IH 

postelection violence by adopting a transformative new 

constitution with a bill of rights and new checks and balances, including a more deliberate separation of government powers and the devolution of certain authorities to 

new county governments; 

Whereas Kenya has become one of sub-Saharan Africa’s largest economies, a regional hub for transportation and finance, and a cornerstone of stability and prosperity in 

East Africa; 

Whereas, in August 2018, the United States and Kenya formally elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership and established a corresponding bilateral strategic 

dialogue, prioritizing 5 pillars of engagement, including— 

(1) economic prosperity, trade, and investment; 

(2) defense cooperation; 

(3) democracy, governance, and civilian security; 

(4) multilateral and regional issues; and 

(5) public health cooperation; 

Whereas the United States is a major trading partner for 

Kenya, which is a leading beneficiary of preferential 

trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity 

Act and a participant in the Prosper Africa initiative; 

Whereas the United States and Kenya entered bilateral negotiations on a future free trade agreement on July 8, 

2020; 

Whereas, on July 14, 2022, the United States and Kenya 

launched Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership 

negotiations to increase bilateral trade and investment 

cooperation; 

Whereas Kenya’s dynamic and growing market-based economy offers increased economic opportunities for public 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•HRES 1254 IH 

and private partnerships that advance United States 

strategic and economic interests; 

Whereas Kenya is at the forefront of improving environmental resilience and is a top tourism destination known 

for its biodiversity and conservation efforts; 

Whereas, on September 25, 2023, the United States and 

Kenya signed a 5-year Framework for Defense Cooperation to guide mutual defense cooperation, enhance interoperability, and advance shared security interests; 

Whereas military-to-military ties between the United States 

and Kenya have deepened through coordinating and participating in bilateral and multilateral military exercises, 

and Kenya hosting United States forces at Manda Bay; 

Whereas the United States and Kenya have worked together 

to address shared security and counterterrorism concerns 

in Kenya and the broader region, including in Somalia, 

where Kenya has contributed forces for over a decade to 

counter al-Shabaab and support Somalia through the African Union mission; 

Whereas Kenya is a key strategic partner in responding to 

Iranian-backed Houthi attacks against vessels in the Red 

Sea through its participation in Operation Prosperity 

Guardian; 

Whereas, in 2011, Kenya reestablished the Kenya National 

Commission on Human Rights as an autonomous institution to monitor government compliance with internationally-recognized human rights and investigate alleged 

human rights violations; 

Whereas Kenya has a flourishing civil society that is supported through constitutional guarantees and a new, 

more predictable regulatory environment under the PubVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:16 May 24, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1254.IH HR1254

kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•HRES 1254 IH 

lic Benefits Organization Act, which came into effect on 

May 11, 2024; 

Whereas Kenya plays a critical role in supporting a strong 

force for regional cooperation and integration as a key 

member of the East African Community; 

Whereas Kenya has volunteered to mediate multiple regional 

conflicts; 

Whereas Kenya has been a leading African voice in multilateral forums, including during its 2021–2022 term on the 

United Nations Security Council, against Russia’s illegal 

invasion of Ukraine, reaffirming its respect for Ukraine’s 

territorial integrity and standing in defense of 

multilateralism; 

Whereas the United States and Kenya have a long history of 

partnering to address critical public health crises, including through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS 

Relief; 

Whereas the United States and Kenya have developed strong 

people-to-people ties as the foundation for deeper cooperation, with over 200 Kenyans participating in United 

States Government-sponsored exchange programs annually and over 250,000 Americans visiting Kenya on average annually; and 

Whereas the diverse Kenyan-American community has made 

critical contributions to the culture and economy of the 

United States and forms one of the strongest bonds linking these two countries together: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) celebrates 60 years of diplomatic relations 

3 between the United States and Kenya; 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
5 

•HRES 1254 IH 

1 (2) reaffirms the strong partnership between 

2 the United States and Kenya, rooted in a shared 

3 commitment to upholding peace, security, and pros4 perity; 

5 (3) recognizes Kenya’s role in regional security, 

6 including maritime security, and its efforts to foster 

7 stability in the Horn of Africa and East Africa; 

8 (4) calls for continued cooperation between the 

9 United States and Kenya in promoting, strength10 ening, and defending shared democratic values and 

11 respect for human rights; 

12 (5) encourages the United States and Kenya to 

13 continue to expand trade and economic cooperation; 

14 (6) encourages Kenya’s efforts to improve its 

15 business environment, domestic economic reforms, 

16 anticorruption measures, and counter money laun17 dering efforts; 

18 (7) commits to strengthening and deepening 

19 diplomatic, economic, commercial, security, and peo20 ple-to-people ties between the United States and 

21 Kenya; 

22 (8) encourages the Department of State to look 

23 at all available tools to help address Kenya’s debt 

24 crisis and counter China’s economic coercion; 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
6 

•HRES 1254 IH 

1 (9) appreciates the contributions of the Kenyan 

2 diaspora community to the United States; and 

3 (10) acknowledges the potential of the bilateral 

4 relationship to bring significant benefit to the citi5 zens of both countries and to addressing security, 

6 economic, and environmental challenges across the 

7 region and beyond. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB