Kamukunji MP Hassan: Kenya’s engagement with USA is not based on equality
By Kiprono Keileb, August 13, 2025Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan Abdi has called for Kenya to move away from what he terms as unequal engagements with the United States and other Western powers, insisting that the country must pursue a foreign policy rooted in its own national interests.
Speaking during a morning talk show on a local television station on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, on Kenya’s diplomatic positioning, Hassan criticised the notion of aligning too closely with the US or becoming part of what he described as “security alliances” that often serve the interests of powerful nations rather than Kenya’s.
“Our engagement with the USA is not based on equality. For instance, what benefit do we get from joining a security alliance headed by the United Nations, where being favoured by one bloc automatically makes you an enemy of another?” Hassan said.
The MP noted that such arrangements can compromise Kenya’s independence and drag it into geopolitical rivalries that do not serve its long-term goals. He pointed to recent remarks by a US senator in Congress questioning why Kenya, despite being considered a close partner, could still maintain relations with China and express independent positions on global matters.
“That’s the expectation that we must be part of the American empire, not an independent, sovereign country that can make its own decisions. This is something we must move away from,” Hassan added.
He said Kenya’s foreign policy should be anchored in principle, assessing global developments based on the country’s own needs, economic priorities, and security interests, rather than aligning with any single power bloc.
“It is not in our interest to be in the Western orbit. We need to examine what’s happening across the world and decide based on what benefits Kenya. Only then can we gain the respect and voice we deserve in international relations,” he stated.
Hassan’s remarks come as Kenya navigates an increasingly complex global stage, balancing relationships with Western allies, emerging powers such as China, and regional partnerships across Africa. His call reflects growing debate within the country over how Kenya can assert greater autonomy in its international dealings, particularly amid shifting global power dynamics.
By advocating for a more balanced and independent foreign policy, Hussein is challenging Kenya to redefine its role on the world stage, not as a subordinate partner, but as an assertive, self-determined nation.