Vice Presidential Pool Reports of May 24, 2024

VP Supplemental Pool #1

Good morning,

I am your print pooler for VP Harris's Friday engagements with Kenya President William Ruto, which include a moderated conversation on digital inclusion for the U.S.-Kenya Business Forum held at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's International Affairs Africa, and then a luncheon at State Department co-hosted by Secretary Antony Blinken.

Pool arrived at Chamber of Commerce about a hour ahead of the VP, but got word she is now in the building and is currently meeting with CEOs ahead of the moderated conversation with Ruto.

On background attributed to a White House official:
At the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in advance of the Vice President's moderated conversation with President Ruto of Kenya, the Vice President met with private sector leaders, including leaders of the public-private partnerships she announced today, which were formed as a follow-up to the Vice President's trip to Africa in April and March 2023 and her Call to Action in Zambia to increase investment in digital inclusion. Those new public-private partnerships include Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance: Africa and the Partnership for Digital access in Africa (PDAA). The Vice President also announced a major expansion of the Women in the Digital Economy Initiative (WiDEF). More information on these organizations can be found here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/05/24/fact-sheet-vice-president-harris-announces-public-and-private-sector-commitments-to-advancing-digital-inclusion-in-africa/

Vice President Kamala Harris will participate in a moderated conversation on digital inclusion in Africa with President William Ruto of the Republic of Kenya during his State Visit. The Vice President and President Ruto will appear at the U.S.-Kenya Business Forum, hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's U.S.-Africa Business Center.

Building on her trip to Africa in March and April 2023, the Vice President will speak about public and private sector efforts to increase investment in digital inclusion across Africa, and the strong partnership between the United States and Kenya on technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The Vice President has spoken extensively about the innovation, ingenuity, and entrepreneurship underway across Africa and how U.S. investment in innovation will unlock economic growth for Africa, the United States, and the entire world.

In April 2023, in Lusaka, Zambia, the Vice President convened business and philanthropic leaders to advance efforts to promote digital inclusion in Africa, and to build upon the more than $8 billion in public and private investments she galvanized as part of her trip to Africa. The Vice President is looking forward to welcoming new commitments and new public-private partnerships formed in response to her Call to Action. Her ongoing work to increase private sector investments to promote digital inclusion is in support of the Digital Transformation with Africa Initiative, which President Biden launched at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in December 2022.

VP Supplemental Pool #2 - Moderated talk begins

Harris walked on the stage at 11:55 p.m.

Her moderated conversation with Ruto and moderated by U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Whitman is being live streamed:

https://www.youtube.com/live/7pgMNdJwtIo?si=T1bEfuT4kIOu8bVu

VP Supplemental Pool #3 - Moderated talk concludes

VP's moderated conversation with President Ruto concluded at 12:20 p.m. VP's motorcade is now heading to State Department.

Some highlights from the talk at U.S. Chamber of Commerce:

Vice President emphasized that the future of the global economy is on the continent of Africa.

"It's good for American business to be invested in relationships that contribute to global stability."

Harris said the future of foreign public policy must be based on a vision of 10-15 years in the future, as opposed to the current foreign policy that is based on responding to global crises. Kenya, she said, is a major part of building that future foreign policy model.

The VP said one of the "smartest ways" to strengthening economies in investing in women.

She also emphasized the importance of digital inclusion, which would particularly benefit farmers in Africa. The VP said private-public partnerships can help scale the impact for workers and industries on the continent.

Harris capacity that we have on public private is an example of "future forward" policy.

Harris said governments don't have "the depth and skill" or the billions of dollars that private investment deliver.

Harris said Ruto's state visit will be remembered as an "inflection point" of how the U.S. government is "revising and upgrading the narrative of the relationship" with Africa.

VP Supplemental Pool #4 - Luncheon remarks

Pool arrived at State Department at approximately 12:30 p.m. VP was not spotted upon arrival. Pool entered luncheon room at 12:37 pm filled with dozens of dining tables and guests mingling.

VP entered with President Ruto and Secretary Blinken at 1pm.

Blinken praised Harris and said he can attest to VP's leadership around the world. After Blinken led a toast to the U.S.-Kenya partnership, he introduced VP Harris who began her remarks at 1:09 pm.

The VP returned similar compliments to Secretary Blinken and his leadership. Emphasizing that the continent's average age is 19 and the potential of the continent, Harris said she strongly believes that "African ideas" will drive the future.

She recalled her trip to Africa and her work on the ground to focus on the continent's ingenuity and refocus the narrative about Africa and what it has to offer (she received applause when she gave a special nod to Africa's popular music genre Afrobeats).

"Any leader that ignores the continent of Africa is doing so at their own peril," said the vice president.

Harris said Kenya has flourished under the leadership of Ruto, particularly as it relates to technological advancement: "African innovation will help shape the world."

Harris said the U.S. is grateful for Ruto's commitment to democracy, economic growth, global security and stability, including help to stabilize Haiti through Kenya's special security mission.

After quoting Dr. Martin Luther King ("Our struggle is not an isolated struggle. We are all caught up in an inexplicable network of mutuality"), the VP concluded her remarks with a toast.

After President Ruto's remarks, who said Africa is a continent of "tremendous opportunities" and emphasized a need to retell the story of the continent, he also gave a toast to the "long-lasting relationship" between and prosperity of the people do the U.S. and Kenya.

Harris and Ruto sat down at their luncheon table. She sat next to Essence Magazine CEO Caroline Wanga.

Pool was escorted out of the luncheon room at 1:28 p.m.

Notable sightings from today's luncheon:

Former House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi
Congressman Greg Meeks
Congresswoman Barbara Lee
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar
Senator Chris Coons
UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Interior Secretary Deb Hassan's
Domestic Policy Director Neena Tandem
State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Joy Basu
Molly Phee, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
OSTP Director Arati Prabhakar
Samantha Power, USAID Administrator
Michael Form, USTR
IFC Managing Director, Makhtar Diop
Mimi Alemayehou, Member Presidential Advisory Council on African Diaspora
Patrick Gaspard, Member Presidential Advisory Council on African Diaspora and former Ambassador to South Africa
Almaz Negash, Member Presidential Advisory Council on African Diaspora
Essence Magazine CEO Caroline Wanga
Gospel singer Jonathan McReynolds

VP Supplemental Pool #5

Pool arrived back at the White House at 1:45pm. VP Harris stayed behind for the duration of the State Department luncheon.

That's a wrap for your pooler!