President William Ruto and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio have discussed opportunities for deeper cooperation in Kenya’s critical minerals sector, including the potential involvement of American companies in local value addition.
The talks were held on Monday, September 21, 2026, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
According to the U.S. Department of State, the two leaders discussed commercial diplomacy as well as regional peace and security.
A key issue was Kenya’s critical minerals sector, with the United States saying the opportunities could position Kenya as an important player while creating room for U.S. firms to participate in value addition.
The discussions come as Kenya pushes for more minerals to be processed locally instead of being exported in raw form.
President Ruto has recently said companies investing in Kenya’s mineral resources should establish processing and value-addition operations in the country.
The position has also received support from U.S. officials.
Speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce Business Summit in Nairobi on September 9, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia said American companies wanted to work with Kenya on processing minerals locally.
“American companies are not here to extract and ship. That is not partnership, that is extraction,” Garcia said.
He added that processing should be done in Kenya, creating opportunities for local jobs and investment.
The renewed discussions between Nairobi and Washington come amid growing interest in Kenya’s mineral resources, including deposits at Mrima Hills in Kwale County.
The two countries are therefore looking beyond the extraction of minerals to opportunities across the wider value chain, including processing and other investments that could increase the value of minerals before they leave the country.
Beyond minerals, Ruto and Rubio also discussed trade, technology, development and security.
Ruto welcomed the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), saying it would help strengthen trade between Africa and the United States and create more economic opportunities.
The leaders also discussed regional security, including efforts to sustain the security mission in Somalia, support stability in Haiti and respond to the humanitarian situation in Sudan.
The meeting comes as Kenya and the United States continue to deepen economic and strategic ties, with critical minerals emerging as an important area for potential investment and commercial cooperation.