President William Ruto shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on September 21, 2026.
By Kenyans
The United States and Kenya have discussed opportunities in the critical minerals sector, with U.S. firms potentially playing a role in adding value to minerals produced in Kenya.
The discussions took place when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met President William Ruto on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday, September 19.
According to the U.S. Department of State, the two leaders discussed how opportunities in Kenya’s critical minerals sector could position the country as a key player while creating opportunities for U.S. firms to provide value addition.
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Kenyan President William Ruto to discuss commercial diplomacy and regional peace and security,” the department said in a statement.
“They spoke about how critical minerals opportunities in Kenya can position the country as a key player in the sector while presenting opportunities for U.S. firms to provide value addition,” it added.
The discussions point to growing interest by the U.S. in Kenya’s mineral resources and potential investment opportunities along the value chain, rather than focusing solely on the extraction and export of raw minerals.
It also comes days after President Ruto announced that Kenya will no longer export raw materials to be processed outside the country, maintaining that companies seeking to invest in Kenya must open companies that will process and add value to Kenya’s minerals in the country.
Ruto’s push was later backed by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia, who also said American companies were ready to partner with Kenya in processing its minerals locally while creating jobs for residents.
“American companies are not here to extract and ship. That is not partnership, that is extraction,” Garcia said while speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce Business Summit in Nairobi on September 9.
“We want processing done right here on the ground in Kenya, not thousands of miles away,” he added.
Besides mineral extraction and value addition, the talks in New York also touched on trade, security, technology, and development.
Ruto welcomed the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), noting that the move would strengthen trade between Africa and the United States and expand economic opportunities.
On security, Rubio described Kenya as a vital U.S. partner in the region, noting its status as a major non-NATO ally and the growing trade relationship between the two countries.
The two sides also discussed regional peace and security, including sustaining the security mission in Somalia, supporting stability in Haiti, and responding to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan.