Biden Meets Kenya's President Uhuru Kenya a at the White House

Biden Meets Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta at the White House

By Rob Crilly, Senior U.S. Political Reporter and Nikki Schwab, Senior U.S. Political Reporter For Dailymail.com and Associated Press

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN met with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in the Oval Offi ce Thursday, marking the fi rst time Biden hosted an African leader.

In the Oval, Biden thanked Kenyatta for his 'leadership in defending the peace, security, and democratic instincts of the region and your country.' 'You're doing a heck of a job,' Biden told Kenyatta. 'You know, Kenya is currently the President of the U.N. Security Council. Thanks for letting us stay in,' Biden also joked.

He announced that the U.S. would be giving additional vaccine doses to the African Union. 'And I'm proud to announce that - that we're making an additional historic one-time donation of 17 more million doses of J&J vaccine to the AU, and we're going to be sending some more of these by the end of the year to Kenya,' Biden said. Kenyatta is the son of the country's fi rst president.

Kenya has long had a strong relationship with the U.S., partnering with Washington in eff orts to thwart Islamic terrorism.

It is a powerful regional player and it has a border with Ethiopia, where war has triggered a humanitarian crisis. 'They will also discuss eff orts to defend democracy and human rights, advance peace and security, accelerate economic growth, and tackle climate change.'

Kenya also currently holds the rotating presidency of the U.N. Security Council. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10093425/

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