Meeting Emperor, 7 Deals: Details Of Ruto's Visit To Japan

President William Ruto is set to depart the country tonight for a State Visit to Japan, a day after he announced plans to do so to secure funding worth Ksh160 billion for an unspecified project.

The visit by Ruto marks the first State visit by a Kenyan Head of State since one by the late former President Mwai Kibaki 20 years ago, according to State House spokesperson, Hussein Mohamed.

"The visit follows Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's State Visit to Kenya in May 2023 and celebrates 60 years of diplomatic relations between Kenya and Japan," Mohamed said in a statement.

During his visit to Japan, the President will engage in bilateral talks with Prime Minister Kishida, with a focus on economic cooperation in key sectors such as health, ICT, infrastructure, energy, and financial services.

Consequently, several Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) will be signed, covering defence cooperation, Public-Private Partnerships on road construction, and the KEMRI Laboratory Expansion Project.

President Ruto and Prime Minister Kishida will also address multilateral issues of mutual interest, including the reform of the United Nations Security Council and climate change.

"Additionally, the Head of State will meet the Japan-Africa Parliamentary Association to advocate for Japanese investments in Kenya, address a Kenya-Japan business forum, and hold meetings with the leadership of prominent Japanese companies," added the statement.

During the State Visit, President Ruto will also have an audience with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.

The announcement came a day after President Ruto revealed that he would travel to the Asian nation after hosting Polish president Andrzej Duda at State House, Nairobi on Monday.

"We are heading to Japan because we have a program valued at $1 billion (Ksh160 billion) and Japan is helping us and we must plan properly," he told worshippers during an interdenominational church service at the Approved School Grounds in Kakamega County on Sunday.

"Today, we have a Polish President coming to Kenya and we have a programme of Ksh8 billion centering around dairy which we will complete between today and tomorrow."

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on his part confirmed the trip, adding that he would fly ahead of the President to finalize plans for a smooth welcome for the Head of State to Japan.

On May 3, 2023, President Ruto held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Kishida at State House in Nairobi, where he expressed Kenya's keenness on strengthening and enriching its relations with Japan.