The highlight of President William Ruto’s week was the launch of the long-awaited construction of the Rironi-Mau Summit Road, a transformative project expected to ease travel along the busy Western Corridor and open new economic frontiers.
The President began the week with key engagements and proceeded to a series of diplomatic, regional and multilateral meetings that took him to Uganda, Angola and back to Kenya.
Here is a roundup of his week:
November 23, Sunday
He flew to Uganda where, alongside President Yoweri Museveni, he presided over the groundbreaking of the Devki Mega Steel Project in Osukuru, Tororo District.
Sitting on more than 400 acres, the multi-billion-shilling investment is expected to cut import bills, create jobs, and build value chains that will power regional industrialisation.
He affirmed Kenya’s commitment to facilitating high-quality, cross-border investments that advance Africa’s manufacturing ambitions and deepen intra-African trade.
Later in the evening in Nairobi, he hosted Malaysia Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim for dinner at State House.
Their discussions reflected on Malaysia’s rise from an agricultural nation to a first-world economy, a journey that the President said continues to inspire Kenya’s own transformation plan.
He emphasised that Kenya’s Sh5 trillion development blueprint will boost agriculture through large-scale irrigation, strengthen energy and road networks, and expand economic opportunities nationwide.
November 24, Monday
President Ruto continued bilateral talks with Malaysia, highlighting the country’s impressive transformation and the lessons it offers Kenya.
He welcomed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s commitment to remove tariffs on Kenyan agricultural produce and beef, opening new markets for local farmers.
Malaysia also pledged to train Kenyan youth in technology fields, a move expected to accelerate skills development and expand opportunities.
Kenya and Malaysia further deepened ties through the signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement to improve connectivity and a tourism MoU to promote travel between the two nations.
Later, the President departed for Angola to attend the 7th African Union–European Union Summit and the Second Session of the AU Institutional Reform Oversight Committee.
At the AU–EU Summit’s opening session, he reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to a partnership anchored on shared values, mutual interests and a drive for prosperity across the two continents.
November 25, Tuesday
On the sidelines of the summit, President Ruto held a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, where they discussed the upcoming Africa–France Summit set for Nairobi in May 2026.
He commended President Macron for supporting Africa’s call for reforms at the UN Security Council, including allocating two permanent seats to Africa with full rights.
The President also held talks with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, exploring ways to expand cooperation in trade, investment, water, irrigation and energy, key pillars of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
He then met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, where discussions focused on clean energy, education, labour mobility, trade and investment.
He welcomed the Chancellor’s support for reforming the global financial architecture and the UN Security Council.
President Ruto later held engagements with European Council President António Costa, where discussions centred on strengthening the AU–EU partnership, boosting continental trade and supporting reforms to make the AU more effective.
They also addressed the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, calling for an inclusive political settlement.
The President then addressed the summit, urging the EU to partner with Africa on digital transformation, climate adaptation and fair labour mobility, shifting partnerships from extractive to productive models that support industrialisation.
He also held talks with Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo, São Tomé and Príncipe Prime Minister Américo Ramos, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom, and Finland Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, focusing on cooperation in agriculture, trade, health, education, renewable energy and blue economy ventures.
Ruto later chaired the AU Institutional Reform Committee meeting, which reviewed reforms on peace and security, financing, the African Court of Justice, the Pan-African Parliament and restructuring AU institutions.
He called for inclusive participation ahead of a Heads of State Summit on the reforms.
November 27, Thursday
At Kasarani, the President joined the Joyful Women Organisation for its 16th anniversary celebrations under the patronage of First Lady Rachel Ruto, commending their achievements and pledging continued support.
He then hosted a delegation from the China Exim Bank led by Chairman Chen Huaiyu.
Discussions focused on Kenya’s first-world economic transformation roadmap, including:
Expanding energy generation to 10,000MW
Construction of 50 mega dams
Dualling of 2,500km of highways
Construction of 20,000km of roads
Expansion of ports and airports
Extension of the Standard Gauge Railway to the Uganda border
He emphasised China’s continued role as a key partner in major infrastructure and technical training programmes.
Later, he condoled with the family of the late Richie Mweka, an NTSA board member, at their home in Nairobi.
November 28, Friday
He officially launched the Sh200 billion dualling of the Rironi–Mau Summit and Rironi–Maai Mahiu–Naivasha roads in Kamandura, Kiambu County.
The project, a turning point for the Western Corridor, will address decades of gridlock and deadly crashes that have claimed thousands of lives.
In 2024 alone, 284 people died along the corridor, while 168 lives were lost in 2023.
The upgrades include:
139km Rironi–Naivasha section (dual four-lane)
Naivasha–Gilgil (dual six-lane)
Rironi–Maai Mahiu–Naivasha (dual four-lane)
A 3.34km dual four-lane viaduct in Nakuru
A 900m retaining wall for stability
A 94km Gilgil–Mau Summit (dual six-lane)
Construction will be undertaken by Chinese and international contractors and completed within two years.
In Nakuru, the President also launched the tarmacking of the 15km Ngata–Roret–Njoro road and addressed residents at Salgaa township, noting that the improved network will boost tourism, investment and trade across the Rift Valley and Western regions.
