US sets timeline to review Kenya’s ally status over China, terror concerns
By Aloys Michael, August 13, 2025The United States Senate has formally initiated a countdown to reassess Kenya’s coveted status as a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA), amid rising concerns over Nairobi’s growing ties with China and links to extremist groups in the region.
According to records from the U.S. Senate, a provision introduced by Senator James Risch has set in motion a high-level, multi-agency review of Kenya’s military, economic, and intelligence partnerships. The amendment, lodged in the Congressional Record Vol. 171, was part of the 2026 National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA).
“Upon the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defence, the Treasury, and the Director of National Intelligence, shall commence a review of the major non-NATO status of Kenya, conferred on June 24, 2024, not later than 90 days,” the document reads.
This review, the first of its kind since Kenya was granted MNNA status last year, could redefine Kenya’s strategic relationship with the U.S., especially in areas of counterterrorism, regional peacekeeping, and trade.
A classified report detailing the findings of the review is expected to be submitted to the relevant Congressional committees within 180 days of the Act’s enactment.
“The report will assess Kenya’s role as a partner in combating violent extremism, particularly through its contributions to peace and security in Sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti. It will also evaluate Kenya’s cooperation as a United Nations troop-contributing country and its reliability as a regional economic ally,” it reads.
However, the probe takes a sharper tone when addressing Kenya’s growing engagements with nations like China, Russia, and Iran. U.S. intelligence agencies will examine Kenya’s participation in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, its commercial and debt agreements with Beijing, and any joint military or political activities with America’s geopolitical rivals.
More alarmingly, the review will investigate Kenyan links with non-state armed groups, including Somalia’s al-Shabaab and Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces.
“It will also scrutinise whether U.S. security and intelligence support to Kenya is being misused, potentially contributing to human rights abuses like renditions, torture, or violence against civilians,” the document read.
Ruto on China-US ties
The Head of State has defended Kenya’s cooperation with China in the wake of criticism of the relationship by the United States.
While China is a critical trading partner for the United States, it is also a major competitor. The two biggest global economies have been at loggerheads, with the US accusing China of engaging in harmful and unfair economic practices.
President Ruto said Kenya’s cooperation with China is mainly in the spirit of multilateralism.
In an interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN), Ruto stated that multilateralism, a system where multiple countries collaborate to achieve common goals, was key to achieving fairer trade.
“We should be working more with multilateralism than unilateralism. We believe that multilateralism has greater safeguards and provides an even environment for trade, for nations across the world,” Ruto said.
“Because, as things stand today, globalisation of trade is an existential imperative. I do not think that any one company in the world can survive on its own. In that way, it is only multilateralism that will guarantee global trade.”
Ruto took the opportunity to call upon the United States, which is heavily anti-China, to be more open towards Kenya’s engagement with the Asian nation. He argued that no country, on its own, the US included, could provide solutions that would be beneficial for all.
“What is good for the US must be good for Kenya. Otherwise, we will not have a win-win outcome. A win-lose outcome will always eventually resort to everybody losing,” Ruto said.