Ruto Meets Kenyan Diaspora in Egypt

During a recent engagement with Kenyans in Egypt, President William Ruto praised the Kenyan diaspora for their vital role in the country's economic development, particularly through their remittances.

In his address, Ruto accentuated that these financial contributions extend beyond mere figures; they significantly enhance the quality of life for many families and facilitate broader national progress. Accompanying the President on this two-day state visit were several high-ranking officials, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Cabinet Secretaries Aden Duale (Environment), Lee Kinyanjui (Trade), Eric Mugaa (Water), and Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh.

Notably, Raila Odinga, Kenya’s candidate for the African Union Commission, was also part of the delegation. Ruto's visit highlighted Kenya's economic ties with Egypt, underscored by trade statistics indicating exports to Egypt valued at approximately $176.04 million (Sh22.8 billion) and imports from Egypt at around $340.10 million (Sh44.2 billion). During discussions, Presidents Ruto and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi witnessed the signing of 12 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at enhancing cooperation in diverse areas such as trade, investment, education, and technology exchanges.

The agreements signed during the visit are expected to boost collaborations in political consultations, diplomatic training, investment, gender equality, and maritime partnerships among others. Ruto further emphasized the importance of extending these partnerships to sectors including telecommunications, information technology, space cooperation, governance, sustainable development, housing, and urban development.
In addition, Ruto revealed that talks are advancing toward finalizing important agreements concerning customs cooperation, security, tourism, mining, and the blue economy.

He expressed optimism that the prompt implementation of these MoUs would propel the shared vision for economic transformation and sustainable development. To foster stronger business relations, Ruto proposed the establishment of a Joint Business Council aimed at reinforcing bilateral ties while exploring new trade and investment opportunities. He stressed the necessity of eliminating trade barriers, streamlining regulations, and simplifying customs processes to create a more efficient trading environment.

Ruto also acknowledged the longstanding collaboration between Kenya and Egypt in promoting peace and security in Africa. He commended President El-Sisi's leadership in stabilizing the Middle East and North Africa, particularly his efforts in securing a ceasefire and facilitating humanitarian aid into Gaza. Concluding his remarks, Ruto expressed hope for the future of Kenya-Egypt relations, asserting that the newly signed agreements will fortify economic, security, and diplomatic ties further. This visit followed a Joint Cooperation Committee meeting between the two nations in March 2024.