Since taking office in September 2022, President William Ruto has travelled out of the country 40 times.
These tours sparked concerns among Kenyans who felt the Head of State ought not to have travelled numerous times as he has done.
But as a President, Ruto said most of his tours were official hence required his presence as the country's head of state.
He defended the tours saying he was sourcing for projects that could help better the lives of Kenyans.
Here are the trips he made since January 2024:
On January 18 and 19, he attended the 42nd IGAD Extraordinary Summit non-aligned movement summit at Kampala, Uganda.
During his time there, he joined Heads of State and Government for the 19th NAM Summit.
On January 20, Ruto flew to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo for the swearing-in of President Felix Tshisekedi.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta was also present.
Ruto also attended the Italy- Africa Summit 2024, held in Rome from January 28 to January 30, 2024.
During the first week of February 6 and 7, 2024, the Head of State flew to Tokyo, Japan for Japan-Kenya relations.
Ruto signed several financial agreements during his visit to Japan, totalling Sh350 billion. These agreements spanned various projects and programs.
The major projects that were set to benefit from the agreements include the Dongo Kundu Infrastructure Ecosystem and the Mombasa Gateway Bridge.
Additionally, Kenya would issue a Sh40 billion Samurai bond in Japan to finance energy and infrastructure projects and secure Sh30 billion from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation to purchase heavy machinery and mechanised assets.
From February 11 to February 13, 2024, Ruto visited Dubai, United Arab Emirates for the World Governments Summit 2024.
In his keynote speech, Ruto talked about increased accountability in public speaking.
February 2024
He also went to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for a three-day event from February 16 to February 18, 2024, for the 37th ordinary session of the Africa Union Assembly.
Ruto attended the leaders’ summit at the African Union. During the event, Ruto was notably active in several key engagements.
He spoke about climate finance for agriculture and food security.
He chaired the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change and co-hosted a meeting on vaccine manufacturing in Africa with the International Vaccine Institute.
On February 14, the President graced the funeral of late President Hage Geingob at Windhoek, Namibia.
The President made a second trip to Uganda—Kisozi—for an official meeting with President Yoweri Museveni.
The meeting primarily focused on issues of energy and petroleum.
AUC candidate Raila Odinga was also present.
March 2024
On March 14, Ruto flew to neighbouring Tanzania for an official meeting. He met with host President Samia Suluhu and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
They discussed East African Community agenda items.
April
Ruto toured Accra, Ghana, from April 2 to April 4 for a state visit.
The President met with Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo during which they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and signed several MoUs.
Ruto asked for Ghana's support for Raila Odinga's bid for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission.
President Ruto was also awarded Ghana's highest honour, The Companion of the Order of the Star of the Volt.
He also went to Bissau in Guinea-Bissau for a state from April 4 to April 5, marking the first state visit by the Kenyan head of state to the country.
Both leaders held bilateral talks and Ruto was also awarded the highest medal in Guinea-Bissau the Amílcar Cabral Medal.
President Ruto pledged to initiate direct flights between the two countries.
On April 6, barely a day after the Guinea Bissau trip, the President went to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
He was received by Vice President Teodoro Nguema at the presidential palace.
Both leaders held bilateral talks and the President requested Equatorial Guinea's support for Raila Odinga’s bid for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission.
On the same day, he made a stop at Bangui, Central African Republic for an official meeting where he was received by his CAR counterpart President Faustin-Archange.
It was the first time a Kenyan head of state had visited the country.
The Head of State went back to Tanzania, Dar es Saleem for a two-day visit on April 25 and April 26, for the 60th anniversary of the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
He held bilateral talks with President Suluhu on the sidelines.
In the next two days, Ruto went to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe where he was a guest at the 64th Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).
May
On May 17 and 18, 2024, the President went to Kigali, Rwanda for the Africa CEO Forum hosted by Jeune Afrique Media Group in partnership with the International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank Group.
On the sidelines, he met with President Paul Kagame and other business leaders such as Arab Bank Development in Africa Director–General Sidi Oud Tah; International Financial Corporation Managing Director Makhtar Diop and MTN Chairperson Mcebisi Jonas.
The President made a trip to Atlanta andWashington DC, United States on May 21 and 24, 2024 for a state visit. This was his first state visit as head of state of Kenya.
On May 21, Ruto arrived in Atlanta. The president visited The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum where he attended talks on Global Democracy
After this, Ruto went to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the Centre for Disease Control Headquarters.
President Ruto observed the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the CDC and the Kenya Medical Research Institute, the Ministry of Health, and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
Later, Ruto visited Spelman College where he gave a speech and signed a STEM agreement.
President Ruto visited Coca-Cola's headquarters and signed a framework agreement focused on policy engagement, mango juice production, and plastic recycling.
On May 22, Ruto arrived in Washington D.C.
In the morning, President Ruto addressed the Congressional Black Caucus at the US Senate.
Following this, the President also met various other senate leaders before heading to the White House to meet with President Joe Biden.
On May 23, President Ruto returned to the White House, where a State Arrival Ceremony was conducted.
Biden and Ruto discussed new agreements in Science, Trade and Financing.
Also at the press conference, Biden mentioned that Kenya was going to be designated as a major non-NATO ally.
From June 3 to June 5, he went to Goyang, South Korea for the Africa – Korea Summit.
On June 14 and 15, the President attended the 50th G7 Summit at Apulia, Italy.
This was the second visit to Italy, in 2024.
On the sidelines of the summit, President Ruto held bilateral talks with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and secured their commitment to Kenya's bid for the African Union Chairmanship.
He also met with Pope Francis and French President Emmanuel Macron.
June
During the June 15 and 16, Summit on peace in Ukraine which was held at Burgenstock, Switzerland, Ruto held bilateral talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines.
Going to Kigali, Rwanda again, Ruto attended the inauguration of the reelection of President Paul Kagame along with other regional heads of State.
This was on August 11, 2024.
September
On September 2 , he flew to Beijing, China, for the Forum on China- Africa Cooperation. Ruto held talks with President XI Jingpin and left the country on September 6.
Still, in September, he visited Berlin, Germany, from the 13th to the 15th.
President Ruto signed a labour mobility and migration agreement with Germany during his two-day visit. The agreement also included provisions for enhanced educational and vocational opportunities for Kenyans in Germany. Additionally, Ruto promoted Kenya as an investment destination and met with the diaspora living in Germany. Kenya was also honoured at Berlin's citizens' festival. |
On September 22, the President went to Port-au-Prince in Haiti for an official meeting.
Ruto visited the Kenyan police forces stationed in Haiti to assess the situation. He pledged to send additional forces to Haiti to bolster the mission. Ruto also announced that he supported turning the current Kenya-led security mission into a full United Nations peacekeeping operation. Since then, President Ruto has not been making foreign trips but has been focusing on the issues facing the country. |
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