Why Ruto Was Snubbed from Trump’s Swearing-In Ceremony

Nairobi, January 20, 2017: It is quite surprising that President William Ruto is one of only two African heads of state in history to have received an official state visit in the United States. As if that were not an insult, it is beyond imagination that Ruto was not invited to attend the inauguration ceremony of Donald Trump. Even President Joe Biden allowed Preident Ruto to sit in his chair during their engagement—a remarkable gesture. This blog offers probable reasons why Trump might have snubbed Ruto during the inauguration.

Donald Trump & William Ruto

Diplomatic Norms Broken

One of the most reasonable explanations for the snub is Kenya's failure to follow diplomatic protocol. Public records show that the Kenyan government never wrote a letter, sent an email, or called to congratulate Trump on his victory. This mistake could have resulted from the Kenyan administration being aligned with the Democratic Party, which lost. This political inclination is well reflected in the public admiration of Kenyan leaders for figures like Kamala Harris. By failing to officially recognize Trump's victory, Kenya's leadership may have signaled disinterest or even disdain, possibly souring relations from the very beginning.

Trump’s Stance Against Corruption

The other aspect is that Donald Trump is rigid on corruption. According to the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, Ruto was ranked as the second most corrupt man on earth, after only ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. As Assad no longer sits in power, Ruto effectively took the top spot. This reputation might have made Trump cautious in dealing with Kenyan leadership due to an ill-labelled image of his administration.

Connections to Controversial Figures

The U.S. Forced Ruto To Cancel Deals With Adani

Ruto’s public praise for Gautam Adani, a controversial figure under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, may have also played a role. Adani’s dealings, particularly his involvement in major Kenyan infrastructure projects through public-private partnerships, have raised eyebrows internationally. When the DOJ indicts someone, they also scrutinize their business associates. Ruto’s apparent alignment with Adani might have heightened American concerns about Kenya’s governance, discouraging Trump from extending an invitation.

Human Rights Concerns

Kenya probes alleged police involvement in abduction of government critics

Reports of human rights abuses under Ruto's rule likely played a role in the decision as well. Former U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman, and others in the American diplomatic community, have spoken out about abductions, extrajudicial killings, and the weaponization of the judiciary in Kenya. These issues undermine Kenya's global standing and raise red flags for U.S. leaders who prioritize human rights in their foreign policy. Without the seal of approval of the U.S. Embassy, it's unlikely that Trump's team would have risked inviting a leader entangled in such controversies.

Regional Patterns

Abductions and extrajudicial killings are not unique to Kenya: they are rife throughout East Africa, in places like Tanzania and Uganda. However, Kenya's proximity to the U.S. through trade, diplomacy, and security partnerships perhaps places it under more scrutiny. This context likely contributed to the decision not to invite Ruto to Trump's inauguration.

With that, diplomatic blunders, corruption allegations, dubious alliances, and human rights abuses likely combined to form Trump's decision to exclude Ruto from his inauguration. Although it could be debated that this was all part of a greater pattern of neglect towards African leaders, the particular circumstances surrounding Kenyan leadership make this case rather exceptional.

Is this a justified snubbing, or is there more to it? 

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