President William Ruto departed for Kigali on Sunday to participate in the inauguration of Rwandan President Paul Kagame, marking a significant moment as Kagame begins his fourth term in office.
Ruto is among a distinguished group of leaders, including Salva Kiir of South Sudan, Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, and Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, all gathered to witness Kagame’s swearing-in ceremony following his overwhelming victory in Rwanda’s July 15, 2024 elections, where he secured an astounding 99.15 percent of the vote.
This foreign trip marks a notable departure for Ruto, who has been relatively grounded in Kenya for the past two months due to escalating domestic protests.
Since June 18, the country has faced unrest as citizens, primarily youth, rallied against the unpopular Finance Bill 2024.
In response to the unrest, Ruto has taken drastic measures, including dismissing his entire cabinet and implementing a wave of austerity measures aimed at reigniting public confidence and ensuring fiscal stability.
The protests unfolded amidst rising discontent with the Kenya Kwanza government, forcing Ruto into a retreat from the international scene after attending the inaugural Korea-Africa summit on June 4, 2024.
As Ruto joins 23 other African leaders in Rwanda, all eyes will be on the outcome of his strategies back home and how they might affect his government’s standing, both regionally and within Kenya.
