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. JA-
COBS, Mr. BUCHANAN, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, and Mrs. KIM of Cali-
fornia) 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 independ-
ence in 1963, and have since developed a strong and en-
during bilateral partnership; 
Whereas bilateral engagement between the United States and 
Kenya expanded after Kenya’s historic 2002 general elec-
tions, when a coalition of opposition parties won the elec-
tions, ending decades of one-party dominance; 
Whereas Kenya took steps to bolster its democratic institu-
tions in 2010 in the wake of the devastating 2007–2008 
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•HRES 1254 IH 
postelection violence by adopting a transformative new 
constitution with a bill of rights and new checks and bal-
ances, including a more deliberate separation of govern-
ment powers and the devolution of certain authorities to 
new county governments; 
Whereas Kenya has become one of sub-Saharan Africa’s larg-
est economies, a regional hub for transportation and fi-
nance, and a cornerstone of stability and prosperity in 
East Africa; 
Whereas, in August 2018, the United States and Kenya for-
mally elevated their relationship to a strategic partner-
ship 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 nego-
tiations 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 econ-
omy offers increased economic opportunities for public 
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•HRES 1254 IH 
and private partnerships that advance United States 
strategic and economic interests; 
Whereas Kenya is at the forefront of improving environ-
mental 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 Coopera-
tion to guide mutual defense cooperation, enhance inter-
operability, and advance shared security interests; 
Whereas military-to-military ties between the United States 
and Kenya have deepened through coordinating and par-
ticipating 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 Af-
rican 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 institu-
tion to monitor government compliance with internation-
ally-recognized human rights and investigate alleged 
human rights violations; 
Whereas Kenya has a flourishing civil society that is sup-
ported through constitutional guarantees and a new, 
more predictable regulatory environment under the Pub-
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•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 multilat-
eral 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, includ-
ing 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 co-
operation, with over 200 Kenyans participating in United 
States Government-sponsored exchange programs annu-
ally and over 250,000 Americans visiting Kenya on aver-
age 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 link-
ing these two countries together: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) celebrates 60 years of diplomatic relations 
between the United States and Kenya; 
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