Investing in Kenya’s People: Valuing the Benefits of the U.S.-Kenya Relationship Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Introduction

Kenya aspires to become “a globally competitive and prosperous nation with a high quality of life by 2030” (First Medium Term Plan, 2008-2012). To achieve this ambitious vision, the country must modernize its infrastructure, boost manufacturing and exports, and mainstream good governance practices to ensure all citizens benefit from Kenya’s growing prosperity.[1]

Strategic partnerships with allies like the United States (U.S.) are an important asset in Kenya’s bid to realize its Vision 2030 plan. For over 50 years[2], the U.S. government has invested in Kenya’s people and institutions, working hand-in-hand with public, civil society, and private sector actors. However, U.S. contributions to Kenya’s development go beyond government assistance alone. U.S. companies, universities, charities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and individuals have increasingly engaged with their counterparts in Kenya over the last several decades.

Despite this long-standing relationship, Kenyan leaders and the public do not have information readily available to assess the value of their country’s partnership with the United States.[3] Although it is difficult to capture the universe of benefits to Kenya from its relationship with the United States, this report provides a conservative estimate of U.S. contributions to Kenya’s growth and prosperity, including those from government and non-governmental actors. At a minimum, we estimate this total contribution to be approximately USD 3.05 billion annually, on average (see Table 1).

In chapter two, we examine approximately USD 1 billion per year on average in direct contributions from the U.S. government to support Kenya’s Vision 2030 plan. We also capture an additional estimated USD 678 million on average per year that the U.S. government has indirectly mobilized through domestic policies and institutions that benefit Kenya.

In chapter three, we quantify an estimated USD 1.36 billion per year in average contributions from U.S. individuals, organizations, and companies to Kenya’s prosperity. These contributions take various forms, from the actions of individuals (e.g., tourism, remittances, individual donations) to more institutionalized efforts (e.g., grants from U.S.-based philanthropies, activities of U.S.-based NGOs, foreign direct investment).

In chapter four, we analyze the results of AidData’s 2020 survey of Kenyan public, private, and civil society leaders to understand how they assess their country’s partnership with the United States, as well as examine potential downstream economic, social, and governance benefits of U.S. engagement in Kenya. We conclude in chapter five by recapping the major takeaways from this research.