City leaders introduce Atlanta to Kenya’s president and first lady

Ruto was already scheduled to meet President Joe Biden in Washington, DC on Thursday, becoming the first African leader to visit the White House under his administration and celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Kenya.

But first, Ruto stopped by influential institutions like the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Spelman College, while also visiting some of Atlanta’s industry titans like the studios Tyler Perry.

Part of the mayor’s job is to defend the city’s international status and foster relationships with world leaders. The visit gave Dickens and city officials a unique opportunity to tout Atlanta’s accomplishments, its rich civil rights history and its booming business community.

“Atlanta is in a unique position right now in terms of growth,” said Paulina Guzman, director of the Mayor’s Office of International and Immigrant Affairs. “And I think the world is taking notice.”

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

“The gateway to Africa”

In 2023, Dickens traveled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and returned to Atlanta on the inaugural direct flight via Ethiopian Airlines. With this trip, the airline became the second carrier at Hartsfield-Jackson to offer direct flights between African cities and Atlanta.

Increased access to the continent is part of Biden’s ongoing efforts to strengthen economic and security ties with this part of the world.

“Atlanta is uniquely positioned to be the gateway to Africa,” Guzman said. “The United States is really looking to Africa and really trying to find a way to better align with a continent in the areas of international trade and economic development. »

During his trip this week, the Kenyan president visited the Coca-Cola Company headquarters to celebrate a $175 million investment by the brand over the next five years that will scale up its operations in that country African.

“For a while I thought Coca-Cola was a Kenyan company,” Ruto said, noting that the company employed thousands of locals. “Today, we must maintain our commitment and collaboration to enable us to meet challenges and seize opportunities together as partners. »

Such visits are not only in the interest of business. They also connect foreign dignitaries with immigrants living in Georgia.

The city is home to a large African diaspora, Guzman said. Atlanta has the fourth largest population of black immigrants in the United States, and the South region has the largest group of African-born immigrants.

During his speech at a swanky private event Tuesday night, Dickens gave a nod to African immigrants living in the Peach State.

“Here in Atlanta, we celebrate all of the world cultures that continue to influence us,” he said. “This includes the thousands of Kenyans who now call the metropolitan area home. The contributions of these immigrants helped shape the fabric of Atlanta’s communities.

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

The history of Atlanta, the birthplace of the civil rights movement, played an important role in Ruto’s visit.

At the King Center, the President and First Lady joined Bernice King in laying a wreath at the marble crypt of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Next, King spoke about his father’s life and the principles of nonviolent resistance.

“We hope we can work together to spread this important teaching around the world,” she said alongside Ruto. “If there’s anything we desperately need right now, we need Dr. King’s nonviolence.”

Kenyan journalists who documented the visit also showed Ruto at Tyler Perry Studios – accompanied by TV host Steve Harvey – and celebrating Kenyan brand Vivo Fashion Group for the opening of its first store in Midtown.

The growing role of the mayor in international relations

Rickey Bevington is president of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, a nonprofit civic organization focused on Atlanta’s engagement in the international sphere. She said the Georgian capital is in a unique position as a leader in many different areas.

And with the FIFA World Cup coming to Atlanta in 2026, the city’s portfolio is set to expand even further.

“Atlanta faces this kind of triple threat: being a public health center, a humanitarian center and a business center,” Bevington said. “Over the next two years we are going to tackle sports. We will now pose a quadruple threat.

Credit: Courtesy of the United States Embassy in Ethiopia

Credit: Courtesy of the United States Embassy in Ethiopia

Before Dickens comes face to face with foreign dignitaries, he must do one important thing: study.

The Office of International Affairs prepares a thorough guide for the mayor that contains facts and figures about the dignitary’s country, names powerful leaders, provides an overview of current events and explains how he should act – how from saying hello to gift suggestions.

Guzman, of the international affairs office, said the mayor and senior staff are taking workshops to get up to speed.

“We want to make sure that we respect the customs and traditions of the country,” she said.

Traditionally, the maintenance of international relations was done at the federal level, Bevington said. The partnership between the United States and Kenya dates back to the 1960s.

But that is starting to change.

“More and more, especially in a modern world,” Bevington said. “It’s these subnational relationships – and by that I mean governors and mayors and others – where a lot of economic development relationships, political relationships and personal relationships take place and it’s increasingly important.”

During his first term, the mayor visited places like London and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and hosted prominent leaders like Princess Astrid of Belgium. Next month, Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima are expected to visit Atlanta.

Bevington said Atlanta faces many of the same issues as other countries.

“We don’t need to solve all our problems in a bubble, we can look at what’s happening elsewhere in the world,” she said. “We can also follow the example of others who show how they have done things well. We can learn from their mistakes and we can also copy best practices.