By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 21, 2024 — On the second day of his four-day state visit to the United States, Kenya’s President William Ruto today visited the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. The head of state also met celebrated TV host Steve Harvey.
President Ruto was accompanied by First Lady Rachel Ruto, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Trade Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano as well as Governors Anne Waiguru, Gladys Wanga and Wavinya Ndeti, among other Kenyan government officials.
“The Tyler Perry Studios tour was an inspiration to put more effort and resources in the creative sector of our economy. I am encouraged by the huge potential for collaboration and partnership with such institutions that could help our young talent to monetise their creativity,” said President Ruto shortly after the tour.
Meanwhile, in an article written by Mirtha Donastorg, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that during a visit to Atlanta’s Spelman College on Tuesday, President Ruto’s government “signed an agreement with the U.S. to establish an exchange between Kenyan universities and HBCUs.”
“The framework pact was signed by representatives of Spelman and Morehouse colleges and Clark Atlanta and Howard universities, along with higher education and business executives in both countries,” the article stated. “The goal of the framework is to enhance science, technology, engineering and math education, commonly called STEM, in the two countries and bolster economic development,” Spelman President Dr. Helene Gayle was quoted as saying,
“We still have details to work out in terms of the partnership, but you know, what we really hope is that our students have the opportunity to go and learn in Kenyan schools, and Kenyan students will have the opportunity here. Our faculty will have opportunities to do research together and really build out partnerships in this very important area of STEM and technology,” she added.
The article noted that the relationship between Kenyans and American higher education “goes back more than 60 years when then-U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy helped fund young Kenyan leader Tom Mboya’s plan to bring students from his country to study in the U.S.
From 1959 to 1963, hundreds of Kenyans attended American colleges, including Barack Obama Sr., through what is sometimes referred to as the airlifts.
“By following in the footsteps of the historic airlift, we shall empower a new generation of disruptive thinkers, ambitious visionaries, and innovative problem solvers, and thus divine a brighter knowledge-driven future where progress transcends borders, transforms lives and delivers prosperity,” Ruto told the audience of Kenyan and American leaders gathered at Spelman.
President Ruto arrived in Atlanta on Monday for the first leg of his U.S. trip. He will meet with President Joe Biden in Washington, D.C., on Thursday for the first state visit by an African leader during the Biden Administration.
