NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto’s administration is under growing scrutiny from Washington following the introduction of a proposed amendment to the United States’ annual defense budget law that seeks an intensive review of Kenya’s military, political and financial ties with global powers and non-state actors.
The proposal, introduced on August 1 by Senator James Risch (R-ID), aims to mandate a sweeping assessment of Kenya’s relationship with the United States and other global players under Amendment S.Amdt.3628 to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026.
At the heart of the amendment is a directive for the U.S. Secretary of State, in consultation with top intelligence and defense officials, to review Kenya’s designation as a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA)—a status the East African nation was granted just over a year ago, on June 24, 2024.
The review is to begin within 90 days of the bill’s passage, with a classified report due to Congress within 180 days.
A Far-Reaching Review
The proposed review goes far beyond diplomatic niceties, demanding answers to sensitive questions that touch on Kenya’s ties with China, Russia, and Iran, as well as its conduct in security operations and international peacekeeping.
The report would include:
- A full account of Kenya’s military and security relationships with China, Russia, and Iran, including joint engagements or agreements since June 2024.
- An examination of the political and financial links between key Kenyan political actors and these three countries.
- An assessment of any associations with non-state armed groups, including al-Shabaab and Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces.
- A review of Kenya’s participation in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, its debt exposure to Beijing, and the broader state of trade and investment ties with the Asian powerhouse.
- An inquiry into whether Kenya is being used as a financial safe haven for sanctioned individuals or groups listed under the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control or linked to terrorism.
Most controversially, the amendment seeks clarity on whether U.S. security assistance and intelligence support to Kenya has been misused — specifically whether it may have facilitated human rights abuses such as renditions, torture, abductions, or violence against civilians.
Implications for Ruto and His Inner Circle
While the amendment does not name individual officials, its scope explicitly includes an analysis of “key political actors and institutions of Kenya” — a phrase that places senior government figures, including President Ruto, under the microscope.
If passed and acted upon, the findings of this review could significantly impact Kenya’s diplomatic standing and access to U.S. military and intelligence support, which has been pivotal to its regional counterterrorism efforts, particularly against al-Shabaab in Somalia.
Washington’s growing discomfort appears to stem from Kenya’s increasingly non-aligned foreign policy, as the Ruto administration deepens ties with China and Russia — both strategic rivals of the United States — while hosting U.S. troops and maintaining strong security cooperation with the West.
A Complex Balancing Act
Kenya’s Major Non-NATO Ally status, granted by President Joe Biden in 2024, was celebrated in Nairobi as a milestone of trust and partnership.
The designation provides access to advanced military training, technology, and joint exercises — benefits that could now be at risk.
This amendment could signal a shift in how Washington views Kenya’s strategic alignment at a time when U.S. foreign policy is increasingly shaped by global rivalries and accountability concerns.
So far, neither President Ruto’s office nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement regarding the proposed review.
The amendment has yet to be debated or passed, but if adopted into law, it would mark a new phase in U.S.-Kenya relations — one defined by hard questions, detailed oversight, and potentially uncomfortable revelations.
