[PHOTOS] Ethiopia PM Abiy Ahmed's moments at State House

Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was hosted on Wednesday by President William Ruto at the State House.

Ahmed arrived in the country on Tuesday evening night where he was received by Ruto at the Jomo Kenyatta International Aiport.

Following his arrival at State House, the Prime Minister was welcomed by President Ruto, First Lady Rachel Ruto, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla.

As a symbol of respect and recognition, the event began with the playing of both the Ethiopian National Anthem and the Kenyan national anthem.

Ahmed's  inspected a guard of honour, showcasing the precision and discipline of Kenya's military.

Abiy was last in Kenya on December 9, 2020, on an official visit for the launch of the One-Stop Border Post at Moyale in Marsabit.

His last State visit to Kenya was in June 2018 when he and then-president Uhuru Kenyatta vowed to elevate their ties to strategic levels.

Insiders said the agenda of the visit is security and economic collaboration, with a particular focus on Ethiopia's strategic interest in utilising Kenya's Lamu Port for maritime access.

The latest visit signals improved relations between Nairobi and Addis Ababa and offers a new opportunity to explore new avenues of collaboration in the region.

Kenya and Ethiopia share a 60-year-old historical defence agreement, rooted in the friendship between Jomo Kenyatta and Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi was on February 22 in Ethiopia where he signed key cooperation deals in seven sectors on behalf of the government.

These included MoUs on tourism, wildlife, culture, blue economy, petroleum, correctional services and capacity building in public service.