President William Ruto has departed the country for an official visit to Rome, Italy, in a trip aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
In a statement issued on Sunday, April 19, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said the visit will feature high-level engagements with Italian leadership focused on deepening bilateral relations and unlocking new areas of cooperation.
During the visit, President Ruto is scheduled to hold talks with Sergio Mattarella and Giorgia Meloni, with discussions expected to centre on strengthening the Kenya–Italy strategic partnership across key sectors.
President Ruto heads to Italy for official engagements in Rome. Photo: Courtesy.
Several memoranda of understanding and cross-sector agreements are also set to be signed.
A major focus of the trip will be efforts to accelerate the implementation of key dam projects, including Arror, Kimwarer, and Itare, which are considered critical to advancing Kenya’s agricultural transformation agenda.
The government views these projects as central to boosting irrigation, enhancing food security, and supporting broader economic development goals.
Hussein Mohamed explained that the irrigation pillar forms part of a broader development framework that also prioritises expanded infrastructure and accelerated energy generation.
He noted that the government aims to significantly scale up irrigation coverage over the coming years in a bid to enhance food security and position Kenya as a net agricultural exporter.
Beyond bilateral government engagements, Ruto is also expected to interact with private sector players and international development partners during the visit.
This includes participation in the Kenya-Italy Business Forum, where he will highlight investment opportunities in key sectors such as infrastructure, irrigation, and energy.
The president is further scheduled to meet business leaders and representatives from multilateral institutions, including the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), as part of efforts to strengthen development cooperation.
Mohamed added that the visit is aligned with Italy’s broader development framework for Africa, the Mattei Plan, which focuses on fostering partnerships across strategic sectors.
