The U.S. government recently expressed concerns to Kenyan President William Ruto regarding police violence in Kenya. This follows a series of incidents where Kenyan police reportedly used excessive force during protests, leading to several injuries and deaths. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented numerous cases of police brutality, including the deaths of protesters and the targeting of journalists covering these events. These human rights organizations have called for accountability and reforms in the Kenyan police force to prevent further abuses.

Simultaneously, the U.S. has been engaging with Kenya on other fronts. President Joe Biden praised Kenya’s contribution to the UN-backed initiative to deploy a police force to Haiti to help address gang violence. The U.S. is supporting this mission with $300 million in funding but has decided against deploying American troops to the region.

Additionally, the U.S. and Kenya are strengthening their bilateral relationship through various initiatives, including climate action partnerships and educational collaborations, which were highlighted during President Ruto’s recent visit to Washington.