While Uganda and Tanzania reel from the shock of Trump’s visa suspension, Kenya has emerged unscathed. Diplomatic sources point to Nairobi’s "strategic utility" to Washington as the reason for its exemption from the list of 75 sanctioned nations.

Kenya’s recent leadership of the Haiti mission and its role as a counter-terrorism hub in the Horn of Africa have earned it brownie points with the Trump administration. "Kenya is a partner that delivers," a State Department official reportedly said. However, experts warn that this immunity is fragile. With the "America First" policy gaining momentum, Nairobi must tread carefully to maintain its privileged status amidst a neighborhood that is increasingly being locked out.