The US-Kenya Alumni Association hosted the inaugural US-Kenya Pamoja Fair on Friday, September 26, 2025, at the Ole Sereni Hotel in Nairobi. The event marked the highlight of year-long activities celebrating 60 years of US-Kenya diplomatic relations.
Speaking at the forum, US Embassy Charge d’Affaires Susan Burns emphasized the vital role of alumni in strengthening bilateral ties. She noted that Kenya’s expanding population continues to open new opportunities for US products, services, and investments.
“Alumni are not only bringing back knowledge but also scaling it to create jobs and transform institutions,” said Burns, highlighting sectors such as energy, technology, agribusiness, and the creative economy.
Over 8,000 Kenyans have benefited from US exchange programs, including the Fulbright Program, YALI, Mandela-Washington Fellowship, and IVLP. Notable alumni include former President Barack Obama’s father, Barack Obama Sr., and Kenya’s current President William Ruto.
During a panel discussion, Mombasa County CECM for Youth, Gender & Sports, Ken Ambani, shared how exchange experiences are shaping the coastal creative economy. He revealed that Mombasa County is training 100 youth in filmmaking, with plans to launch the Mombasa International Film Festival to connect local talent with Hollywood.
In the Mt. Kenya region, Simon Nyaga, CEO of Bold Impact Africa and a 2024 YALI alumnus, urged participants to focus on agricultural innovation. He is spearheading soil science research collaborations between Kenya and the United States to boost productivity and food security.
On the policy front, Dr. Winnie Rugutt, Director of the Africa Centre for the Study of the United States (ACSUS), called for a structured bilateral framework, especially as the African Growth Opportunities Act (AGOA) nears its conclusion in September 2025.
The fair underscored how alumni networks are evolving into powerful drivers of Kenya’s socio-economic transformation, bridging knowledge, trade, and innovation between the two nations.
