President William Ruto left the country Monday evening for Japan, where he is set to join other African leaders for the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9).
The three-day summit will be held in Yokohama, a city located south of Tokyo.
This marks the first time the location for TICAD has been chosen through a public competition process.
The city has previously hosted the conference three times in 2008, 2013, and 2019.
TICAD is Japan’s flagship platform for advancing Africa’s development in partnership with global actors.
First held in 1993, it has become one of the most influential summits on Africa’s future.
TICAD is held every three years and brings together African and global leaders to discuss development, investment, and sustainable growth.
The last summit was held on August 27-28, 2022, in Tunis, Tunisia and co-hosted by Japan, the African Union, the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank.
This year’s summit takes place from August 20-22, 2025.
It will be held under the theme “People, Planet and Prosperity in a Changing World: Co-creating Innovative Solutions with Africa.”
The high-level meeting will focus on climate action, youth participation, digital innovation, economic transformation, and human security.
Who will be there?
The meeting is expected to draw over 20 African heads of state and government, together with Japan’s Prime Minister and senior Japanese officials.
Leaders of the African Union (AU), United Nations (UN), UNDP, World Bank, and other international organisations will also attend as co-organisers.
Beyond governments, more than 10,000 delegates are expected, including ministers and senior policymakers from Africa and Japan.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has already arrived in the country ahead of the much-anticipated summit.
Private sector leaders, with around 200 Japanese companies showcasing innovations at a major business expo, civil society organisations and philanthropies, providing grassroots perspectives, are also attending.
Others are youth representatives, through Youth TICAD 2025, which will bring together 100 young leaders from over 40 African countries and Japan.
Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu are among those who have already arrived in Yokohama.
Agencies such as the ILO, UN University and UNIDO are organising side events on jobs, resilience, AI in education, agriculture, and green energy. Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will host bilateral talks with the African ministers.
What’s on the agenda?
TICAD 9 will combine plenary sessions, side events, and an international business fair.
Japan Fair and Africa Lounge will promote trade and investment opportunities.
Thematic panels will tackle climate resilience, health tech, digital governance, food security, and financing for sustainable growth.
Youth dialogues will allow young leaders to pitch solutions and exchange ideas with policymakers.
Why it matters
TICAD has always emphasised African ownership of development, aligning with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
The Yokohama summit comes at a critical moment, ahead of the UN General Assembly and the G20 Africa Summit, making it a bridge to wider global action.
Africa offers access to investment, innovation, and policy support.
For Japan and its partners, it strengthens political ties and business opportunities on the continent.
Importantly, it puts youth voices and private sector partnerships at the center of future development strategies.
In short, TICAD 9 is more than a conference; it is a platform where African leaders, Japan, international partners, and young innovators will co-create practical solutions for shared prosperity.
Kenya’s participation underscores the government’s efforts to position the country as a hub for trade, investment, and innovation in the region.
The visit comes as Kenya continues to deepen its longstanding development partnership with Japan.
On the sidelines of TICAD 9, President Ruto will hold bilateral talks with several leaders, including Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
He will also be received at the Imperial Palace by Their Majesties Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.
The meetings will focus on “deepening the Kenya–Japan partnership and exploring new avenues for trade, investment, and international cooperation,” according to State House.
According to State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, the visit aims to consolidate Kenya-Japan relations by expanding opportunities in trade, investment, and development cooperation.
Japan, he stated, has provided over Sh600 billion in support to Kenya, making the country the leading recipient of Japanese aid in Africa.
According to the statement, discussions at TICAD 9 will focus on flagship infrastructure projects, including the Mombasa Port expansion, the Mombasa Port Area Road Development, the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone, and Nairobi’s urban transport systems.
Other collaboration areas include agriculture, forestry, and climate change.
Japan has already supported the rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure and reforestation efforts in Kenya.
Both countries also plan to explore educational exchanges in Science, Technology, and Innovation to develop skilled talent.
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