US Ambassador says ‘cat out of the bag’ on Kenya trade talks

The U.S. ambassador to Kenya said both countries stand to win from talks set to start next week that could result in America’s first free-trade agreement with a sub-Saharan African nation.

In confirming the news on his Twitter account, Ambassador Kyle McCarter used a phrase in the Swahili language that’s widely spoken in East Africa. “How do you say the cat is out of the bag?” McCarter asked after the Tweet, which is understood to mean what he intended, kicked up a bit of ruckus over English-to-Swahili translation.

Some followers advised McCarter, who regularly speaks the language on tours within the country, to attend more Swahili classes and dump online translators.

Bloomberg reported Tuesday that the Trump administration wants the accord to be a model for future pacts with other nations in the region, according to a person familiar with the plans. Macharia Kamau, Kenya’s principal secretary for foreign affairs, said the government expects real progress on the pact by the third quarter of this year.

“None the less I am expecting a victorious week coming up,” McCarter said. “Win win for Kenya & USA in many ways.”

An announcement is expected to coincide with Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit to Washington next week.