Blow To Ruto As US Speaker Declines Congress Address Request

The request to address the joint session was made by the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs in April, which formally requested Speaker Johnson to invite President Ruto to address a joint session of Congress, potentially giving the Kenyan Head of State a new podium to promote his ideals.

According to Shah, a joint session consumes a lot of energy on Capitol Hill. The chamber closes for hours, a security headache and the House leadership loses a large chunk of the day's floor time.

However, US congressman Richard Neal of Massachusetts blasted the Speaker in a statement dated Friday, May 10, arguing that the speaker did not recognize the importance of Ruto's visit to the US.

He wondered why the speaker was barring Ruto a chance to address the Congress despite other world leaders being granted the opportunity during their state visits.

"This Congress, the Republican leadership has invited Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and President Yoon Suk Yeol to address joint meetings of Congress during their official visits to the United States, and I see no reason why President William Ruto’s upcoming state visit should be any different.

"Even in times of great tragedy and global conflict, the Congress has historically shown a depth of focus, and amid appliance acts, there should be time to recognize the importance of President Ruto’s visit," he stated.

Neal thus pushed for the Speaker to extend the invite to the Kenyan president, adding that Africa was an equal partner of the US and noted that the continent contributed to US's ascension as a global superpower.

“I had the privilege of hosting former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, where we spoke about the great opportunities to strengthen relations between our two economies present.

"Since then, Kenya has only continued to demonstrate its commitment to reaffirming our 60-year partnership. With the Biden Administration already rising to the rightful occasion by hosting a state dinner, the Congress must do the same,” he stated.

President Ruto was to be the first Kenyan leader to address a joint meeting of Congress and the first African leader to do so since Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf spoke in the House chamber in 2006. Speaker Johnson is yet to officially state his latest decision.

Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto will fly to the US on May 23, 2024, to be hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

"The upcoming visit will mark the 60th anniversary of U.S.-Kenya diplomatic relations and will celebrate a partnership that is delivering for the people of the United States and Kenya," a statement from the White House read in part on February 16, 2024.

The visit will strengthen Kenya and the US's shared commitment to advance peace and security, expand their economic ties, and stand together in defence of democratic values.