United States Ambassador nominee to Kenya Henry Wooster has reaffirmed that Washington will not back any candidate or political party in Kenya’s 2027 General Election.
Appearing before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday, September 24, Wooster said the United States would maintain a neutral position as Kenya heads to the August 2027 polls.
He said the Donald Trump administration’s primary concern in Kenya would be maintaining stability before, during and after the election.
“Our watchword, the U.S. watchword for August 2027, when the elections are scheduled to take place, is stability. Not an unusual watchword for U.S. foreign policy, but it happens to be grounded in truth. That is exactly what we want,” Wooster stated.
The ambassador nominee explained that Washington’s priority would be ensuring a peaceful electoral process rather than influencing which candidate or political party wins the contest.
“We are not picking sides in the election, A or B or any other party. What we are looking for is stability,” he added.
Wooster said the U.S. would closely follow developments around Kenya’s election, with stability expected to remain a key factor in Washington’s engagement with Nairobi.
His remarks come as political activity intensifies ahead of the August 10, 2027, General Election, with various political camps working to strengthen their support bases.
Part of the campaigns has involved reaching out to Kenyans living abroad, including those in the United States.
Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua is currently in the U.S., where he has been meeting members of the Kenyan diaspora as he seeks to build support ahead of next year’s election.
President William Ruto has also held meetings with Kenyans living in the U.S. during his trip to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Beyond the 2027 election, Wooster told the committee that, if confirmed, he would work to deepen diplomatic and military relations between the U.S. and Kenya during his tenure.
U.S. President Donald Trump nominated Wooster as ambassador to Kenya in June 2026. He is expected to succeed Meg Whitman, who resigned from the position in June 2024.
