Kenya’s placed its bet with the US, abandoning a 60-year non-alignment policy that brought benefits from both the Western and Eastern blocs of nations. The decision was revealed during President William Ruto’s recent state visit to the US, during which Joe Biden announced that Congress was working on officially designating the East African country as a major non-NATO ally. Kenya is strategically located in Eastern Africa and boasts a tech-savvy, ethnically diverse, hardworking population of 56 million.
The country is the gateway to the immensely wealthy Great Lakes region, with a natural harbour and relatively modern transport corridors linking it to Africa’s interior. It’s clear why Washington was keen to lock Nairobi firmly into its orbit – as, of course, were the likes of Moscow and Beijing, whose foothold on our continent is fast expanding. So what does Kenya actually gain – and what does it lose – by siding with Washington & Co.?
Well, we’ve indulged our amateur-dramatics skills to bring you the answers! African Stream’s Wambura Mwai, Ahmed Kaballo and Eric Gavala star, respectively, as Kenya, the US-led NATO bloc and the China-Russia axis! Enjoy the show, and let us know what you think – of our points, if not our acting skills!