President William Ruto has arrived in Kazakhstan for a two-day state visit aimed at enhancing diplomatic and economic cooperation between Kenya and the Central Asian nation.
Speaking after landing in the capital, Astana on Tuesday, May 19, Ruto said the visit was intended to strengthen the longstanding relationship between the two countries and elevate bilateral engagement to a higher level.
The President noted that Kenya and Kazakhstan have steadily built ties over the years through a series of diplomatic engagements, adding that both nations are now seeking to expand cooperation across various sectors.
President Ruto begins Kazakhstan tour to strengthen bilateral ties. Photo: Courtesy.
Ruto also highlighted the growing trade relationship between the two countries, particularly in areas such as tea, flowers, fertilizer and logistics.
He further pointed to improving connectivity between Nairobi and Astana, as well as broader links with countries in Central Asia, as part of efforts to boost trade and investment opportunities.
Ruto said Kenya is seeking to expand cooperation with Kazakhstan into new sectors aimed at creating jobs and opening up economic opportunities for both countries.
According to Ruto, the two nations are exploring partnerships in finance, ICT, tourism, energy and exchange programmes as part of broader efforts to promote skills transfer, expand market access and strengthen trade relations.
He noted that the cooperation is expected to support job creation while opening new markets for Kenyan products.
Before travelling to Kazakhstan, the President had been in Azerbaijan where he attended the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum held at the Baku Convention Center in Baku.
During the visit, Ruto also held bilateral talks with Aleksandar Vučić focused on strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between Kenya and Serbia.
Discussions centered on enhancing trade and investment cooperation, particularly through increased market access for Kenyan agricultural exports into the Serbian market.
The Head of State also held talks with Irakli Kobakhidze where the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade, investment and tourism ties between Kenya and Georgia.
Discussions focused on expanding market access for agricultural products such as tea and coffee while enhancing people-to-people relations.
While attending the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum in Baku, Ruto highlighted Kenya’s Affordable Housing Programme as one of Africa’s leading urban transformation initiatives, noting the need for increased investment in affordable housing as urban populations continue to grow.
The President also held meetings with Rovshan Najaf to discuss energy cooperation and with Anacláudia Rossbach on sustainable urban development and affordable housing.
He later met Ilham Aliyev for talks centred on expanding cooperation in energy, trade and housing.
