This archive report was first published on 3 July 2019.
On a visit to Meru County, US Ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter emphasized the country's potential to become a benefactor rather than a beneficiary of foreign aid.
According to McCarter, Kenya's untapped resources can be exploited to address food insecurity and unemployment. He noted that the country has many idle parcels of land that can be utilized to achieve these goals.
“There are too many resources in Kenya. There are too many wonderful, strong beautiful shambas. There are too many people with the ability to lift Kenya up and I believe Kenya should not be a beneficiary but a benefactor,” McCarter said during his visit.
Despite his optimism, McCarter acknowledged that the US will continue to support Kenya in relieving its debt burden. He emphasized the importance of transparency and ethics in their partnership, stating, “The US will do everything necessary to walk with the Kenyan people down their path. Every project we do, every infrastructure, it’s gonna be with an open contract, it’s gonna be with ethics of the highest,” as quoted by the Star.
The visit by McCarter and his wife, Victoria Ramatowski, was appreciated by Meru County Governor Kiraitu Murungi, who expressed gratitude for the cooperation and partnerships between Kenya and the US.
