President William Ruto having a talk with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during the Second UN Food Systems Summit in Addis Ababa on July 28, 2025/PCS
President William Ruto has congratulated Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after her government became the longest-serving government in the history of the Italian Republic.
In a message dated September 7, 2026, Ruto hailed the milestone as a reflection of the confidence Italians have placed in Meloni’s leadership and her commitment to the country.
“On behalf of the people of the Republic of Kenya, and on my own behalf, I extend my warmest congratulations to you on your Government becoming the longest-serving Government in the history of the Italian Republic,” Ruto said.
Meloni took office on October 22, 2022, becoming Italy’s first female prime minister. She leads a right-wing coalition comprising Brothers of Italy, League and Forza Italia.
On September 4, her government completed 1,413 consecutive days in office. It surpassed the previous post-war record of 1,412 days held by Silvio Berlusconi’s second government, which served from June 11, 2001, to April 23, 2005.
The milestone marks the longest uninterrupted cabinet in Italy since the Republic was founded in 1946.
Italy has had 68 governments during that period, with governments historically lasting about 13 to 14 months on average. Meloni’s government has therefore stood out for completing nearly four years without collapsing or undergoing a major reshuffle.
Meloni and her party have presented the longevity as a sign of stability, arguing that it creates room for longer-term policy and strengthens Italy’s international profile.
Ruto used his congratulatory message to highlight the growing relationship between Kenya and Italy.
“Kenya greatly values the longstanding bonds of friendship and the growing partnership between our two countries, founded on mutual respect, shared values and common interests,” he said.
He pointed to trade and investment, development cooperation and people-to-people ties as key areas where relations between the two countries continue to deepen.
Ruto also recalled his official visit to Italy in April 2026, describing it as an important milestone in bilateral engagement.
During the visit, Ruto held meetings with Meloni and Italian President Sergio Mattarella on April 20 and 21. Kenya and Italy also adopted an Italy–Kenya Action Plan for 2026–2029 and signed cooperation agreements covering justice, defence, agriculture, infrastructure and vocational training.
Kenya is also a priority country under Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa.
Ruto said the milestone provided an opportunity to reaffirm Kenya’s commitment to working with Meloni’s government.
“I reaffirm my commitment, and that of my Government, to working closely with Your Excellency to further strengthen our bilateral and multilateral cooperation for the mutual benefit and shared prosperity of our two peoples,” he said.
Ruto’s message comes as Meloni’s political longevity draws attention both within Italy and internationally, with other leaders, including India’s Narendra Modi, Japan’s Sanae Takaichi and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, also sending messages around the same period.
