Jill Biden unveils the country star who will entertain Kenya at her biggest state dinner yet... and the lavish menu of lobster they will dine on... after Joe failed his promise to visit Africa

Jill Biden revealed that country star Brad Paisley will be the entertainment when she and President Joe Biden host their biggest state dinner to-date on Thursday evening.

The first couple will entertain Kenyan President William Ruto, his wife Rachel and 500 guests in a glass pavilion on the South Lawn, with the stars and the Washington Monument visible in the sky.

The Bidens are rolling out all the stops for the Kenyan president after Biden failed to keep his promise to visit sub-Saharan Africa last year. The African leader will lay a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery, have an Oval Office meeting, participate in a joint press conference and convene a meeting with tech leaders.

But the highlight of the visit will be the state dinner. Guests will be taken down to the South Lawn as the sun sets. They will dine in a glass pavilion, taking in stunning views of the stars and the city's famous monuments.

Jill Biden visited Kenya in February 2023. She said she hopes guests at the dinner 'will be filled with that same warmth I felt on my visits to Kenya – that of a friendship that will endure, helping create a shining and prosperous tomorrow.'

Over 1,000 candles will line the walls of the pavilion. They will reflect the sequined table cloths and the 15,000 pieces of reflective metallic strips that will be suspended above the guests.

First Lady Jill Biden greets Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife, First Lady Rachel Ruto, as they arrive at Joint Base Andrews 

'It is designed to reflect the first lady's love of candlelight and the way she likes to make guests feel they are at home,' said White House social secretary Carlos Elizondo.

American roses along with fuchsia and purple African orchids will make up the centerpieces.

Guests will dine on lobster, short ribs and chilled tomato soup. 

Event planner Bryan Rafanelli, who planned Naomi Biden's White House wedding and other state dinners for this administration, said he takes his inspiration for the events from the first lady.

'I actually study Dr. Biden's words all the time. So in a lot of different quotes over the over time that she's given out, she's always talked about candlelight,' he said.

He added he hopes the candlelight and sparkling decor 'brightens everyone's day.'

After dinner, guests will be entertained by Paisley and the Howard University Gospel Choir, reflecting the Rutos love of country and gospel music. 

About 1,000 candles will line the walls - American roses along with fuchsia and purple African orchids will make up the centerpieces

Jill Biden said she hopes dinner guests 'will be filled with that same warmth I felt on my visits to Kenya'

Kenya is the first African nation since 2008 to be honored by the U.S. with a state visit - the biggest perk the White House can offer a foreign leader. It's the sixth state dinner of the Biden administration.

The president is honoring Kenya with a three-day visit after he vowed at the Africa Leaders Summit in 2022 to visit the continent in 2023. He said he was 'all in' on Africa.

That visit didn't happen given other world events - particularly the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Wednesday that Biden still intends to visit Africa as president. 

'I plan to go in February after I am reelected,' Biden told reporters Thursday afternoon. 

Kenya's visit comes as the Easter African nation prepares to deploy forces to Haiti as part of U.N.-led effort to try to calm the security crisis in the Caribbean country. 

About 1,000 police officers from Kenya are expected to arrive on the island soon. Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Bangladesh are also sending police forces.

Additionally the U.S. is using Kenya as a bulwark against growing Russian and Chinese influence in Africa.

China is Kenya's biggest creditor. Debt relief is on the agenda when Biden and Ruta meet. 

And Russia has tried to expand its economic and military influence across Africa. 

Kenya is the economic powerhouse of East Africa. It's known as the Silicon Savannah as its capital Nairobi is rapidly becoming a tech center. Google has a huge operations center in Nairobi. 

First course is Chilled Heirloom Tomato Soup (left), second course is Fruitwood-smoked Beef Short Ribs Butter-poached Lobster (center) and dessert is a White Chocolate Basket (right)

President Joe Biden welcomes Kenya's President William Ruto to the White House on Wednesday

The table setting for the state dinner

Ruto's visit will begin when he and Biden meet with tech leaders at the White House on Wednesday.  Executives from Teneo, Alphabet, and Semiconductor Technologies Limited are among those expected to attend.

Ahead of his White House stop Ruto met with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson at the Capitol. 

First Lady Jill Biden greeted the Rutos upon their arrival at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday afternoon to welcome them to the United States.

Ruto is also set to participate Friday in an event at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with Vice President Kamala Harris.