TRUMP CANCELS JD VANCE'S KENYAN TRIP , CITING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES

The much-anticipated visit by United States Vice President J.D. Vance to Kenya has been abruptly shelved after President Donald Trump has barred American officials from attending the upcoming G20 Summit in South Africa, citing alleged human rights violations in the host nation.

After the global forum, scheduled to run from November 22 to 23, Vance was expected to proceed to Nairobi immediately afterward. The visit was widely seen as a gesture aimed at restoring and strengthening the warm relations Kenya has long enjoyed with the United States under previous administrations—ties that appeared to wane following Trump’s return to office.

In a post shared on his Truth Social account, President Trump said:
“It is a total disgrace that the G20 will be held in South Africa. Afrikaners are being killed and slaughtered, and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated. No US Government Official will attend as long as these Human Rights abuses continue. I look forward to hosting the 2026 G20 in Miami, Florida.”

The announcement forced Washington to cancel Vance’s Africa tour altogether. Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi confirmed that the decision had a direct impact on the planned visit to Nairobi further insisting that the alleged atrocities are " specific to South Africa, not Kenya."

“Since the Vice President was to have a roundtrip that would have culminated with his visit to Kenya after the G20 Summit in South Africa, his trip has now become untenable. But this has nothing to do with Kenya. President Trump’s statement is specific to South Africa, not Kenya,” Mudavadi clarified.

“The planned trip to Kenya is likely to be impacted as the two visits were related: G20, then Nairobi.” Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Dr. Korir Sing’oei echoed the same.

Non obstante the setback, Mudavadi underscored that the bilateral relationship remains firm.

“The State visit by President William Ruto to Washington in May last year elevated the relationship to a strategic partnership, reaffirming Kenya’s position as a key ally of the United States in Africa,” he said.

Trump's administration has seemingly been on rocky terms with African nations. Kenya has not been an exception - following an order by the US administration to compromise the security and military ties which were initiated to fight the Kenya - Somalia terrorism in Barack Obama's regime.

Trump was also recently quoted threatening to coordinate a military attack against Nigeria due to claims of Terrorists killing Christians.

Despite Trump's seeming bad blood with Africa, Kenya is keen to ensure that its longstanding ties with Washington remain intact—despite the ripple effects of global politics playing out far beyond Kenya’s borders.