NEW YORK, United States Sep 22 – President William Ruto has held talks with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, with discussions focusing on trade, technology, security and emerging areas of cooperation.

📻 Breaking It Down

Ruto said Kenya and the United States remain close partners, with their relationship anchored on trade, security, technology and development.

The President said the two sides welcomed the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which he said would help strengthen trade between Africa and the United States and expand economic opportunities.

The talks also focused on emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), and its potential application in key sectors including health, education and financial services.

📌 What You Need to Know

Ruto said Kenya and the US exchanged views on the responsible governance of rapidly advancing AI technologies and explored areas where the two countries could deepen cooperation.

The discussions further covered critical minerals and nuclear energy as Kenya seeks to expand its partnerships in strategic economic and technological sectors.

The meeting came as global leaders gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly, where AI governance and digital transformation are among the issues receiving increased international attention. The UN General Assembly has been holding discussions on the need for international cooperation, safety, accountability and human oversight in AI governance.

Regional peace and security also featured prominently in the Ruto-Rubio talks.

According to the President, the two leaders discussed efforts to sustain the security mission in Somalia, where Kenya has continued to play a role in regional efforts to combat insecurity and support stability.

They also discussed support for stability in Haiti, where Kenya has been involved in an international security effort.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya