President William Samoei Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto will begin an official visit to Japan from February 6 to 9, where the Kenyan leader will attend the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) and hold bilateral talks with Japanese leaders, including Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
The visit marks Ruto’s first trip to Japan as Kenya’s head of state, though he previously attended TICAD V in 2013 as deputy president. His itinerary includes a state call on Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, who will host a court luncheon in his honor, and a state dinner with Prime Minister Ishiba and his spouse.
According to State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, the visit underscores Kenya’s efforts to deepen ties with one of its most important development partners. Japan has invested more than Sh600 billion in Kenya over the years, making Nairobi the largest recipient of Japanese aid in Africa.
Talks in Tokyo and Yokohama are expected to focus on major infrastructure projects such as the expansion of Mombasa Port, the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone, and improvements to Nairobi’s urban transport network.
Climate resilience, reforestation, and agricultural modernization are also on the agenda, alongside new partnerships in science, technology, and innovation aimed at equipping young Kenyans with globally competitive skills.
“President Ruto will call for deeper African integration and connectivity to unlock economic potential, with the African Continental Free Trade Area as a central driver of inclusive growth,” Hussein said.
Beyond development, Ruto is expected to push for the removal of trade barriers and attract Japanese investment in energy, logistics, and digital infrastructure. On the sidelines of TICAD 9, he will meet with several African and global leaders to strengthen Kenya’s role as a regional hub.
Japanese officials have expressed hope the visit will broaden bilateral cooperation, including at the regional level, with Ruto scheduled to visit Aichi Prefecture to foster subnational exchanges.
The trip reflects Kenya’s strategic push to build stronger global alliances while reinforcing its longstanding partnership with Japan in infrastructure, technology, and sustainable growth.
Written By Rodney Mbua
