Kenya, USA sign deals on tech cooperation

By Victor MUJIDU

The United States of America and Kenya have engaged in a momentous pact to launch a new era of technological cooperation that will touch on areas including semiconductors, clean energy, and artificial intelligence.

The US committed Ksh642 million ($4.9 million) in funds to capitalize on cooperation and coordination in fighting international criminal injustice and put criminals into account across Kenya and East Africa as a whole.

“We’re launching a new era of technological cooperation between Kenya and America, including new exchanges and investments in key fields of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors. And this progress is thanks in large part to the leaders around this table,” said President Joe Biden.

The technology synergy between Biden and Ruto is a result of the deployment of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which seeks to provide security support in Haiti, among other counterterrorism operations globally.

This collaboration stands out as a potential source of growth and innovation that contributes to various aspects of the country’s development and transformation.

“Our young population, talented, educated, innovative, and American technology that is cutting-edge, investment capital, and investors that are hungry for opportunities not just in Kenya but on our continent, is a perfect match for this moment. I think we have a historic moment to explore investment opportunities between Kenya and the United States,” commented President William Ruto.

“Major non-NATO ally:” What Biden’s new Kenya pledge mean

President William Ruto’s visits to the US earmarked the designation of Kenya as a major non-NATO ally, a move made as Kenya prepares to deploy forces to Haiti under a U.N.-led initiative to address the security crisis in the Caribbean country.

United States President Joe Biden pledged to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally on Thursday, which will make Kenya the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to hold the designation. This was during Kenyan President William Ruto’s three-day visit to the US.

Biden described the decision as “a fulfilment of years of collaboration”.

The United States designates Kenya as a major non-NATO ally for the strategic relationship the two countries share in different areas of collaboration.

“As we honor 60 years of ties between our countries, it’s clear that our people are the true strength of this partnership. Nowhere is it more important than in the realm of innovation. That’s why we have so many businesses around this table, from Silicon Valley to Silicon Savannah. Our people have brought us forward and pioneered new technologies that are transforming millions of lives,” said President Biden.

Kenya becomes the fourth African country to achieve this rank, and the first in Sub-Saharan Africa, reinforcing Kenya’s position as one of the US’s closest allies on the continent.

Kenya and the United States have a long and diverse connection that includes collaboration in a variety of vital sectors. This alliance, founded on mutual interests and shared values, extends across diplomatic, economic, security, and developmental arenas. Kenya and the United States’ cooperation actions help to maintain regional peace, promote economic progress, and achieve common interests on a global scale.

Diplomatically, Kenya and the United States work together on a variety of regional and international matters of mutual concern. Both countries engage in diplomatic engagement, contribute to peacekeeping activities, and promote human rights, democracy, and good governance.

Kenya is critical to regional stability and conflict resolution, and its collaboration with the United States advances shared goals of promoting regional peace and security.

What is a major non-NATO ally?

A major non-NATO ally (MNNA) refers to a country that is not part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), yet has a deep strategic and security partnership with the US.

It is a designation that denotes a high level of trust, but falls short of involving commitments that full-fledged treaty allies agree to. In particular, this status would not bind the US and Kenya to mutual defence of each other, if either one of them were under attack.

What benefits do non-NATO allies receive?

The MNNA status entails certain economic and military benefits alongside benefits in areas of defence trade and security cooperation, but it “does not entail any security commitments to the designated country”, the US Department of State website says. The designation will allow Nairobi to buy military technologies that would be harder for other countries to obtain from Washington.

In addition to that, the State Department website enumerates other benefits, including:

MNNAs are eligible for loans of materials and equipment for research, development or testing.

US-owned War Reserve Stockpiles can be placed on MNNA territory.

MNNAs can be considered for the purchase of depleted uranium ammunition.

The allies can enter a formal agreement with the US Department of Defense to carry out research and development projects. Additionally, firms of the MNNA can bid on contracts to repair and maintain US Defense Department equipment outside of the US.

But the designation would not guarantee new defence agreements or weapon sales between Nairobi and Washington.

Additional reporting: Aljazeera