US lawmakers demand 90-day review of Kenya’s strategic ally status amid Ruto’s pivot to China, Iran

Washington Initiates Review of Kenya’s Non-NATO Ally Status Over Deepening Ties With China, Iran

Barely a year after elevating Kenya to Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status, the United States is reassessing the designation amid growing concern over President William Ruto’s deepening ties with China, Russia, and Iran.

Kenya became the first sub-Saharan African nation to receive the prestigious status during Ruto’s state visit to Washington in May 2024, an honour meant to recognise the country’s role in counterterrorism and its support for Western interests, including its condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

However, a newly proposed congressional amendment, quietly tabled in August, directs US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to initiate a 90-day review of Kenya’s MNNA standing. The review will be conducted in collaboration with the Pentagon and the Director of National Intelligence.

A classified report is expected within 180 days. It will assess Kenya’s counterterrorism record, its ongoing deployment to Haiti, and the extent of its growing economic and security partnerships with China, Russia, and Iran. The report will also weigh Kenya’s overall value as a strategic US ally in the region.

The amendment is spearheaded by Senator James Risch, a Republican and chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who has expressed concern about what he terms an “alarming drift” in Kenya’s foreign policy.

“This is not merely about trade, it’s about alignment. President Ruto’s rhetoric in Beijing sounded less like hedging and more like allegiance,” Risch said, referencing Ruto’s April 2025 visit to China.

During the visit, Ruto stood beside Chinese President Xi Jinping and criticised “hegemonic power and unilateralism”, remarks widely interpreted as a rebuke of Washington. In a separate address at Peking University, Ruto described the current global order as “broken” and said Kenya and China would help “co-architect” a new, fairer world system.

Washington viewed this language as crossing a diplomatic line.

Analysts say Ruto’s engagement with Iran has further raised eyebrows. Despite Tehran’s past links to terror plots in Kenya, Ruto has described Iran as a “critical strategic partner.” In 2024, he hosted the now-deceased Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Nairobi and pledged to “heighten and strengthen” bilateral relations.

While the MNNA title does not come with defense guarantees, it provides Kenya with access to preferential military cooperation and security assistance. Still, Nairobi has long complained of receiving outdated hardware, such as the ageing helicopters blamed for the 2024 crash that claimed the life of General Francis Ogolla, Kenya’s only four-star general.

Despite this, the designation remains a diplomatic badge of honour for Kenya, reinforcing its image as a key Western ally in East Africa. Kenya hosts US military bases in Manda and Wajir and has consistently aligned with the US in global forums.

But Ruto’s strategic shift has sparked fresh doubts in Washington. Nairobi has also expressed interest in joining BRICS, an alliance of emerging economies led by China and Russia.

“Kenya is trying to walk a tightrope that few African states can manage,” said international relations analyst Mike Ombachi.

The US congressional review is not limited to foreign alliances. Lawmakers are also demanding details about the financial and political ties between Kenya’s elite and its Eastern allies. There are concerns about Kenya’s growing role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative and whether Nairobi might be used as a financial haven for sanctioned individuals from conflict-ridden countries like Sudan and Somalia.

In addition, the review seeks clarity on whether US intelligence and security assistance to Kenya has been misused, particularly following allegations of extrajudicial killings during the historic anti-government protests in June 2024.

Analysts warn the scrutiny could significantly strain Kenya-US relations.

“This is a humiliating request,” said one observer familiar with Western diplomatic circles.

As Kenya attempts to balance its global partnerships, the next few months will test whether Nairobi can maintain its standing in Washington while embracing new alliances in the East.