During his address at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, Kenyan President William Ruto called on leading American health training institutions to establish exchange programs for Kenyan students to enhance research in the health sector.
Ruto, on a four-day state visit to the U.S., emphasized the importance of collaborations with institutions such as the Perelman School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Columbia, Duke, and Emory universities.
“Through such collaboration, we aim to expand learning horizons and deepen insights into emerging threats, including zoonotic diseases,” Ruto stated.
President Ruto praised the longstanding partnership between Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and U.S. institutions, highlighting significant scientific achievements, including the development of a malaria vaccine. He noted that this partnership, which involves the CDC and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has significantly improved healthcare outcomes in Kenya.
Ruto advocated for increased grants to KEMRI to foster intellectual property and scientific entrepreneurship, essential for Kenya’s product development. “I therefore encourage you to enhance support for better coordination, aligning efforts to improve our health system. This includes prioritizing and investing in the implementation of the Kenya Health Sector Partnership and Coordination Framework (2018-2030),” he urged.
Additionally, Ruto lauded the U.S. government’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has significantly boosted Kenya’s efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, turning a once fatal disease into a manageable condition. He highlighted the transition of HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis programs into primary healthcare initiatives, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 3.
Since 2003, the U.S. government has invested at least $8 billion in Kenya, according to the U.S. Embassy. This funding supports programs for over 1.6 million people living with HIV in Kenya, constituting more than half of the total HIV/AIDS care funds in the country.
President Ruto’s visit, the first by an African leader in 15 years, aims to strengthen U.S.-Kenya ties and attract investment. On Monday, Ruto invited American investors and manufacturers to explore opportunities in Kenya, amidst growing interest from Asian and Middle Eastern companies in Africa.
On Tuesday, Ruto is scheduled to visit Spelman College in Atlanta to emphasize the critical role of higher education, particularly in science and technology, in attracting investments. He will also visit Tyler Perry Studios to explore opportunities within the creative economy, meet with representatives from Coca-Cola to forge new investments, and launch the Kenyan fashion label Vivo’s inaugural store in Atlanta. The day will conclude with a dinner hosted by Atlanta’s mayor, Andre Dickens, attended by President Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto.
