Washington views Kenya as key in strengthening its ties with Africa as Mr Trump appears to be moving to mend fences with the continent he reportedly described as a collection of "sh**hole” countries on January 11.

Ms Sanders described Kenya as a "vital partner” of the US and that Mr Trump was looking forward to "discussing ways to broaden the strategic partnership based on our shared democratic values and mutual interests”.

The Trump administration has been warming up to Nairobi in recent months, with two high-powered delegation on trade and security holding talks with top leadership in Nairobi.

The US Presidential Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA) – a think-tank which advises Mr Trump through his Commerce secretary Wilbur Ross – pitched camp in Nairobi from June 27-29.

The meeting culminated in signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which set out a framework where Kenya and US authorities will be engaging each other on investment opportunities. US-Africa Command Commander Thomas Waldhauser also held talks with Mr Kenyatta on July 11 at State House focusing on security issues in war-torn South Sudan and Somalia.

US Under-Secretary for Commerce Gil Kaplan, who led the delegation of about 60 business executives, made it clear American firms were keen on cutting deals with Nairobi under the ambitious "Big Four” plan.

"Kenya is a wonderful partner for further trade, development and commercial relations,” Mr Kaplan said during the signing of the MoU.

"We have been incredibly impressed by the sophistication and the thoroughness that they have looked at the problems that they are facing.”

Under the "Big Four” plan state resources are being concentrated in manufacturing, food security, healthcare and affordable housing as well as enabling infrastructures such as roads, modern railway and power.