President Ruto to Visit Japan Next Year Amid Growing Ties

President William Ruto was on Monday extended a special invitation by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to visit Japan next year.

The invitation was delivered by the Japanese Ambassador to Kenya Ken Okaniwa during a meeting with the president at State House, Nairobi. Ruto expressed his anticipation for the official visit, emphasizing the longstanding diplomatic relations and strong partnership between Kenya and Japan. He also conveyed gratitude for Japan's support in various sectors, including health, agriculture, and education.

“We are grateful for Japan’s funding of infrastructure projects in health, agriculture and education among them a high-tech laboratory/ facility upgrade at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), the Southern by-pass in Mombasa and an intelligent transport system in Mombasa County,” he said.

Ruto specifically lauded Japan's funding of infrastructure projects such as the upgrade of a high-tech laboratory at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), and the Southern bypass in Mombasa county. The meeting took place ahead of the upcoming ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) scheduled to be held in Yokohama, Japan in 2025. This conference has been led by Japan since 1993 and is co-hosted by the United Nations, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank, and African Union Commission (AUC). In 2016, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's predecessor attended the previous TICAD hosted by Kenya.

On Monday, President William Ruto held a meeting with the British High Commissioner to Kenya Neil Wigan ahead of the State visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. After their engagement at State House Nairobi, Ruto was upbeat about the visit's potential to enhance the mutual relationship between Kenya and Britain.