U.S. Senators Want Kenya’s Non-Nato Ally Status Reviewed

The U.S. Senate has ordered a review of Kenya’s status as a Major Non-NATO Ally nation, which was conferred in 2024 during the administration of former U.S. president Joe Biden. Senators cite the country’s ties with U.S. adversaries and “a potential misuse of U.S. military and intelligence support” as reasons for their decision.

The U.S Secretary of State – along with the Secretaries of Defense and Treasury – have been mandated to conduct a review of the east African nation’s status within 180 days. Some anlaysts have attributed the decision to Kenya’s “growing reliance on Chinese surveillance and telecom infrastructure.” There have also being concerns from rights groups about recent violence against civilians in the country.

Kenya is a key partner in the U.S. counterterrorism operations in the region, notably against Al Shabaab.