KENYA: Biden/Ruto Press Conference Underway Shortly

US President Joe Biden and Kenyan President William Ruto are shortly due to hold a joint press as the latter continues his White House State Visit - the first by an African leader in over 15 years. LIVESTREAM

• The two leaders just concluded a bilateral meeting which likely focused on a long-delayed plan for Kenya to deploy police to quell gang violence in Haiti and a joint plan to reduce the debt burden of Kenya and other developing nations.
• AP reports: "The call to action, dubbed the Nairobi-Washington Vision, comes as Biden presses his appeal to African nations that the U.S. can be a better partner than economic rival China. Beijing has been deepening its investment on the continent — often with high-interest loans and other difficult financing terms."
• The White House said in a fact sheet: “Together we will call to the international community to come together around these elements to support high-ambition countries with high-ambition financial support.”
• Semafor notes: “The US wants to convince Africa that it is a better economic partner than Beijing, but questions over Washington’s commitment remain,” noting that “efforts to offer Ruto a joint address to Congress failed.”
• Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Rep Greg Meeks (D-NY) described the decision from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) not to invite Ruto to address Congress as, “a missed opportunity and a slap in the face.”