The United States of America has designated Kenya as its major non-NATO ally, MNNA. A memorandum published by the White House stated that the MNNA status is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defence trade and security cooperation. President Biden had pledged to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally during Kenyan President William Ruto’s three-day visit to the US last month. 

According to the US Department of State, the MNNA designation is a powerful symbol of the close relationship the United States shares with those countries. While the MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments to the designated country.