US Vice President JD Vance's Visit To Kenya Cancelled After Trump Order
The 2025 G20 Johannesburg summit, scheduled for 22–23 November, is set to be the first ever on the African continent.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
The much-anticipated trip of U.S. Vice President JD Vance to Kenya has been canceled after former President Donald Trump previously declared that no American officials would participate in the upcoming G20 Summit in South Africa.
The 2025 G20 Johannesburg summit, scheduled for November 22-23, is set to be the first ever on the African continent.
Vance had intended to visit Nairobi immediately afterward, with officials describing the visit as a symbol of “deepening relations between President William Ruto’s administration and Washington.”
US President Donald J. Trump with Vice President JD Vance of Ohio during a past rally. /THE NEW YORK TIMES
Trump shared the decision on the social media platform Truth Social, stating, “It is a total disgrace that the G20 will be held in South Africa. Afrikaners are being killed and slaughtered, and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated. No US Government Official will attend as long as these Human Rights abuses continue. I look forward to hosting the 2026 G20 in Miami, Florida.”
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi confirmed that Vance’s planned Kenya visit had been directly impacted by the announcement.
"The Government of the Republic of Kenya through the office of H.E. Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, E.G.H., Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs has been informed by the Government of the United States of America of the cancellation of the planned visit to Kenya by the Vice President, His Excellency JD Vance, which was scheduled to take place later this month," Mudavadi said in a statement.
“The cancellation comes after President Donald Trump’s recent directive that American officials will not attend the upcoming G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, where Vice President Vance was scheduled to lead the U.S. delegation before traveling to Nairobi.”
In a follow-up statement, the Prime Cabinet Secretary reassured that the cancellation would not harm the relationship between the two countries.
He also emphasized areas where the U.S. and Kenya have worked closely together, such as trade and investment, security cooperation, education, health, and engagement with the diaspora.
“Kenya values its longstanding and strategic partnership with the United States, which continues to span key areas of mutual interest, including trade and investment, security cooperation, education, health, and diaspora engagement,” the statement read.
“The Government remains confident that this development will not affect the strong and enduring ties between our two nations.”
The Johannesburg summit will focus on inclusive and sustainable development, climate and energy transitions, global financial reform, digital innovation, peace and security, and health preparedness.
Although Kenya is not a member of the G20, Vance’s stop in Nairobi was to be seen as part of a broader U.S. outreach strategy to key African partners.
The visit would have come at a delicate time in U.S.–Kenya relations, with Trump’s “America First” foreign policy putting traditional alliances under pressure. Diplomats from both nations are currently working to safeguard crucial bilateral interests.
One major issue expected to dominate discussions is the fate of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) — a trade pact that expired on September 30. The agreement had allowed Kenyan exports such as textiles, tea, and coffee to enter the U.S. duty-free. Its expiry has sparked concerns over job losses and revenue declines, with Kenya pushing for an extension.
President Ruto has claimed a one-year extension has been negotiated, but official confirmation from Washington remains pending.
Since only the U.S. Congress can authorize the renewal, Kenya will likely intensify its lobbying efforts — and Vance’s visit could be pivotal in securing Trump’s political backing before Congress makes its final decision at year’s end.
