Kenya–United States relations

Kenya–United States relations are bilateral relations between the Republic of Kenya and the United States. Kenya and the United States have long been close allies and have enjoyed cordial relations since Kenya's independence. Relations became even closer after Kenya's democratic transition of 2002 and subsequent improvements in human rights.

This was preceded by sometimes frosty interludes during President Moi's regime when the two countries often clashed over bad governance issues, resulting in aid suspension and many diplomatic rows. Following the election of the new government of Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013, relations somewhat took a dip when the new president forged a new foreign policy looking east away from traditional western allies. Kenya–United States relations have been improved through cooperation against terrorism and a visit by President Obama to Kenya, which is the homeland of his father.

Kenya's athletic mastery of some auspicious American events such as the Boston Marathon and New York Marathon have increased ordinary Americans' consciousness of Kenya paving the way for a warm mutual regard between the two peoples. An attack on Kenya by Al-Qaeda in 1998, as well as subsequent attacks by Al-Shabaab, has drawn the two countries politically closer due to the shared fate the U.S. has had of similar targeting in the September 11 attacks by Al-Qaeda in Lower Manhattan and The Pentagon.

In a 2013 BBC World Service poll, 69% of Kenyans view U.S. influence positively, with 11% viewing U.S. influence negatively.

In 2007, according to the Pew Research Global Attitudes Project, 87% of Kenyans viewed the U.S. favorably, decreasing slightly down to 83% in 2011 and 81% in 2013. The 2012 U.S. Global Leadership Report indicated that 68% of Kenyans approve of U.S. leadership, with 14% disapproving and 18% uncertain.