President William Ruto has departed the country for official visits to Spain and the United Kingdom, where he is expected to engage in a series of high-level meetings and sign key bilateral agreements.
In a statement on Sunday, June 29, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed said the visits are part of the government's agenda to boost Kenya's competitiveness in areas such as trade, climate change, technology, and security.
"In London, President Ruto will join UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to sign the renewed Kenya-UK Strategic Partnership 2025-2030. Anchored on four pillars: trade, climate, technology, and security, the partnership aims to double trade by 2030, equip Kenyans with digital skills, and strengthen cooperation on regional stability, terrorism, cyber threats, and climate action," he said.
Mohammed noted that the renewed partnership comes as Kenya and the UK seek to deepen their historic ties with focus on sustainable development and innovation.
“Under the trade and green growth pillar, both countries will prioritise the completion of flagship projects, including the Nairobi Railway City, which is set to transform Nairobi’s Central Business District into a modern, transit-oriented urban hub. The UK has committed to mobilising up to £1.5 billion in new investments across Kenya to drive growth across priority sectors by 2030," he continued.
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In addition to infrastructure development, Mohammed said the bilateral talks will highlight climate action and tech-driven innovation.
“In support of climate action, the two nations will unlock green finance from public, private, and blended sources. The science and technology agenda will invest in Kenya's innovation ecosystem, supporting start-ups and digitally enabled SMEs, and creating digital jobs, with additional cooperation in Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies," he added.
One of the major announcements expected during the UK visit is the establishment of a regional underwriting hub by Lloyd’s of London in Nairobi.
"President Ruto will also witness the announcement by Lloyd's of London to establish a regional underwriting hub in Nairobi under the Nairobi International Financial Centre (NIFC), positioning Nairobi as a financial gateway for Sub-Saharan Africa," the statement read.
Ruto will also deliver the keynote address at the Africa Debate, hosted by Invest Africa, which serves as a strategic platform to showcase Kenya’s investment potential and reform agenda.
Before heading to London, Ruto will start his European tour in Seville, Spain, where he will attend the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development.
"Prior to his engagements in the United Kingdom, President Ruto will begin his official visit in Seville, Spain, where he will participate in the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, a high-level global forum convening world leaders to define new principles for development financing.
"He will advocate for reinvigorated multilateralism in a world facing growing uncertainties, geopolitical tensions and intersecting crises; from extreme poverty, rising inequalities, and economic turmoil, to climate change and biodiversity loss," the statement added.
At the summit, Ruto will not only advocate for reforming global financial systems but will also engage in strategic diplomatic meetings.
“President Ruto will also co-chair a high-level session during the summit and hold bilateral talks with several Heads of State and Government, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and King Felipe VI, aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation in areas such as clean energy, youth empowerment, and climate resilience," the statement concluded.
