NAIROBI (KAAB TV) – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has abruptly canceled his scheduled visit to Kenya next week, in what sources say is a direct response to Nairobi’s warming relations with Beijing, growing corruption among top government officials, and Kenya’s controversial ties with rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan.
Rubio was expected to arrive in Nairobi on April 28 as part of his first diplomatic tour of Africa since his appointment by President Donald Trump in January, State Department announced.
The visit was also set to include a stop in Ethiopia.
However, officials in Washington confirmed the trip has been called off at the eleventh hour, with no official reason given.
The cancellation comes just days after Kenyan President William Ruto returned from a high-profile five-day state visit to China, where he held talks with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and National People’s Congress Chairman Zhao Leji.
Ruto’s trip, aimed at strengthening trade, investment, and infrastructure ties with Beijing, has sparked unease in Washington.
State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed described the visit as a continuation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2017, highlighting Kenya’s role as China’s leading partner in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Africa.
During the visit, Ruto openly criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and, notably, condemned a recent U.S. vote at the UN Security Council that aligned with Russia—further straining relations with Washington.
Links to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
Concerns in Washington have also been fueled by Kenya’s recent decision to host Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Nairobi, as well as alleged support for rebel factions in eastern DRC.
Diplomats have privately expressed frustration with the Ruto administration’s regional posture.
Adding to the tension is the broader context of the Trump administration’s reported plan to close up to 10 U.S. embassies and 17 consulates worldwide, including several in Africa such as the Central African Republic, Congo, Eritrea, Gambia, Lesotho, and South Sudan.
Consulates in Douala (Cameroon) and Durban (South Africa) are also reportedly under review.
Troy Fitrell, the State Department’s top official for Africa, told reporters last week that U.S. diplomats on the continent have been instructed to prioritize support for American businesses and investment deals.
Sources also indicate that several U.S. companies, which had previously committed to multi-billion-dollar investments in Nairobi, have now pulled out, citing Kenya’s deteriorating corruption levels as a major deterrent.
The fallout has reportedly cost Kenya opportunities worth thousands of billions of shillings that were expected after Ruto’s White House visit last year.
Matters have further deteriorated with the closure of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a major funding channel for Kenya, signaling a dramatic shift in U.S.-Kenya relations.
The Kenyan government has yet to issue an official statement on the cancellation.
However, criticism has been mounting on social media, with some Kenyans questioning the timing of Ruto’s China trip.
“President Ruto chose the worst time to visit China—during heightened U.S.-China tensions over tariffs. Today, he’s seen as a betrayer by his former ally, America,” wrote Steve Mbogo, a prominent commentator on X (formerly Twitter).
Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi told People’s Daily that Secretary Rubio’s cancellation likely stemmed from growing concerns over corruption and Kenya’s engagement with rebel groups in the region.