President William Ruto departed the country on Monday night for a State Visit to Japan, marking the first State visit by a Kenyan Head of State since President Mwai Kibaki’s visit 20 years ago.
This diplomatic mission follows Prime Minister Fumio Kushida’s State Visit to Kenya in May 2023 and commemorates the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Kenya and Japan.
During his visit to Japan, President Ruto is scheduled for bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Kushida, with a primary focus on enhancing economic cooperation across vital sectors such as health, ICT, infrastructure, energy, and financial services.
Several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed, encompassing defense cooperation, Public-Private Partnerships related to road construction, and the KEMRI Laboratory Expansion Project.
President Ruto and Prime Minister Kushida are set to address mutual concerns on multilateral issues, including the reform of the United Nations Security Council and climate change, as communicated by State House.
Moreover, Ruto plans to meet with the Japan-Africa Parliamentary Association to advocate for Japanese investments in Kenya, participate in a Kenya-Japan business forum, and hold discussions with the leadership of prominent Japanese companies.
As part of the State Visit, President Ruto is scheduled to have an audience with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.
This international trip by President Ruto comes amid criticism from some Kenyans who question the perceived value of such visits.
