[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 90 (Thursday, May 23, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3889-S3890]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 704--RECOGNIZING THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF KENYA TO 
  THE UNITED STATES AND CELEBRATING THE 60-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF UNITED 
                         STATES-KENYA RELATIONS

  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:

                              S. Res. 704

       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;
       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 
     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 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 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
       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
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) celebrates 60 years of diplomatic relations between the 
     United States and Kenya;
       (2) reaffirms the strong partnership between the United 
     States and Kenya, which is rooted in a shared commitment to 
     upholding peace, security, and prosperity;
       (3) recognizes Kenya's role in regional security, including 
     maritime security, and its efforts to foster stability in the 
     Horn and East Africa;
       (4) calls for continued cooperation between the United 
     States and Kenya in promoting, strengthening, and defending 
     shared democratic values and respect for human rights;
       (5) encourages the United States and Kenya to continue to 
     expand trade and economic cooperation;
       (6) encourages Kenya's efforts to improve its business 
     environment, domestic economic

[[Page S3890]]

     reforms, anti-corruption measures, and counter-money 
     laundering efforts;
       (7) commits to strengthening and deepening diplomatic, 
     economic, commercial, security, and people-to-people ties 
     between the United States and Kenya;
       (8) encourages the Department of State to look at all 
     available tools to help address Kenya's debt crisis and 
     counter economic coercion by the People's Republic of China;
       (9) appreciates the contributions of the Kenyan diaspora 
     community to the United States; and
       (10) acknowledges the potential of the bilateral 
     relationship--
       (A) to bring significant benefit to the citizens of both 
     nations; and
       (B) to address security, economic, and environmental 
     challenges across the region and worldwide.

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