Why US First Lady visit is important
By Editorial.Team, February 24, 2023The arrival today of US First Lady Jill Biden in Kenya is a signal of the country’s growing influence in the global family of nations and should, ideally, lead to the strengthening of ties between Washington and Nairobi.
The agenda of her first visit as First Lady is also important, considering that Kenya has been seeking ways to end inequality of income and opportunity that mostly affect women and the youth.
Both these demographics have the potential to play a critical role in their own and the country’s economic development. However, they are perennially held back by forces beyond their control, such as lack of access to capital to start or expand their business, inefficient market linkages and insufficient skills and competencies.
When people who wield influence globally interact with women and youth from all walks of life, they not only inspire them at an individual level but they also share ideas that influence policies locally and abroad. In turn, implementation of such policies can empower the beneficiaries to improve the quality of their lives.
For instance, women have the potential to impact food security, especially in times of adverse weather such as the one that Kenya is going through. From this they can embark on the journey of value addition, turning products like fruits into juices or milk into by-products such as ghee and butter. By so doing, they can increase their earnings even when they engage in cottage industries supported by their farm production.
Since First Lady Jill is keen on such programmes, her presence over the next three days should inspire both the production and value addition of food crops, on the one hand and, on the other, lobby her government to give Kenya preferential treatment in such imports.
Her other advocacy around democracy can also inspire youthful leaders to take up more proactive roles in governance and, going forward, this has the potential to change the nature of political engagement, especially through programmes that support youth candidature for elective positions.
Whichever way this trip is examined, therefore, demonstrates the capacity for win-win partnerships between Kenyans involved in the programmes supported by the First Lady and their American counterparts, whether they are involved in business or leadership.
Hoping for fruitful and tangible outcomes.