118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 704 

Recognizing the strategic importance of Kenya to the United States and 

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

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 23, 2024 

Mr. BOOKER (for himself, Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina, Mr. COONS, and Mr. 

YOUNG) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Relations 

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 a majority in both the presidential and parliamentary elections, 

ending decades of dominance by the Kenyan African National Union; 


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•SRES 704 IS 

Whereas Kenya took steps to bolster its democratic institutions in 2010, in the wake of the devastating post-election violence following the presidential election held on 

December 27, 2007, 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 with 

Kenya, which is a leading beneficiary of preferential 

trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunities Act (19 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) 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 


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•SRES 704 IS 

negotiations to increase bilateral trade and investment 

cooperation; 

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

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— 

(1) to counter Al-Shabaab; and 

(2) to 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 re-established the Kenya National 

Commission on Human Rights as an autonomous institution to monitor government compliance with internationVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:35 May 24, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR704.IS SR704

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•SRES 704 IS 

ally 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 Public Benefits Organization Act 2013, which came into effect on May 14, 2024; 

Whereas Kenya plays a critical role in supporting 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 (commonly known as ‘‘PEPFAR’’); 

Whereas the United States and Kenya have developed strong 

people-to-people ties as the foundation for deeper cooperation, as evidenced by— 

(1) more than 200 Kenyans participating in United 

States Government-sponsored exchange programs each 

year; and 

(2) an average of more than 250,000 Americans visiting Kenya annually; and 


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•SRES 704 IS 

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 our countries together: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) celebrates 60 years of diplomatic relations 

3 between the United States and Kenya; 

4 (2) reaffirms the strong partnership between 

5 the United States and Kenya, which is rooted in a 

6 shared commitment to upholding peace, security, 

7 and prosperity; 

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

9 including maritime security, and its efforts to foster 

10 stability in the Horn and East Africa; 

11 (4) calls for continued cooperation between the 

12 United States and Kenya in promoting, strength13 ening, and defending shared democratic values and 

14 respect for human rights; 

15 (5) encourages the United States and Kenya to 

16 continue to expand trade and economic cooperation; 

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

18 business environment, domestic economic reforms, 

19 anti-corruption measures, and counter-money laun20 dering efforts; 

21 (7) commits to strengthening and deepening 

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•SRES 704 IS 

1 ple-to-people ties between the United States and 

2 Kenya; 

3 (8) encourages the Department of State to look 

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

5 crisis and counter economic coercion by the People’s 

6 Republic of China; 

7 (9) appreciates the contributions of the Kenyan 

8 diaspora community to the United States; and 

9 (10) acknowledges the potential of the bilateral 

10 relationship— 

11 (A) to bring significant benefit to the citi12 zens of both nations; and 

13 (B) to address security, economic, and en14 vironmental challenges across the region and 

15 worldwide. 

Æ 


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