Uhuru Kenyatta leaves for U.S. on Kenya Airways flight

President Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret have left for the U.S. where a meeting with American leader Donald Trump is set for Monday.

The duo left the country on Friday just after midnight aboard the national carrier Kenya Airways.

Also Read: Kenya Airways official US direct flights set for Oct 28

Kenya Airways plans to start direct flights to the U.S. in October. Reports indicate that over 7,000 Kenyans have already made a booking for the maiden trip.

The direct flight from Nairobi to New York will take 15 hours, a seven-hour reduction from flights that include layovers at different airports.

Kenya Airways secured a landing at the JFK International Airport early this year.

The Kenyatta-Trump meeting is a major boost for Kenya’s tourism and aviation sectors as it comes just weeks before the official commencement of direct flights in October.

DP William Ruto, Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and Governors Mike Sonko (Nairobi) and Ferdinand Waititu (Kiambu) were at the airport to see off President Uhuru Kenyatta and the First Lady.

During his visit to the US, President Uhuru Kenyatta will hold talks with his American counterpart with trade and regional security at the top of their agenda.

Over the years, Kenya has remained a strategic and key partner of the US in the management of peace and security in Eastern Africa.

Kenya country is at the core of restoring peace and stability in Somalia and South Sudan.

The Kenyan armed forces, under the African Mission In Somalia (AMISOM), are at the centre of the fight against al Shabaab.

Kenya also benefits greatly from US-sponsored programs such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which President Kenyatta will seek to renegotiate.

Besides trade and regional security, the two Heads of State will discuss ways of strengthening Kenya-US ties.

Foreign Affairs CS Monica Juma who arrived in the U.S. ahead of President Kenyatta, has already met with Secretary of State Michael Pompeo among other top government officials.