Ruto arrives in Kazakhstan for two-day State visit

President William Ruto on Tuesday arrived in Astana, Kazakhstan, for a two-day State Visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic cooperation between Kenya and the Central Asian nation.

The President was received by Kazakhstan Minister of Foreign Affairs Yermek Kosherbayev as Kenya seeks to expand partnerships in trade, logistics, investment and technology.

The visit forms part of Ruto’s wider international tour that began on Saturday, May 16, when he left Kenya for Azerbaijan before proceeding to Kazakhstan.

In a statement after arriving in Astana, President Ruto said Kenya and Kazakhstan had built cordial relations over the years and were now seeking to elevate cooperation into new sectors that could create jobs and expand economic opportunities.

“Kenya and Kazakhstan have been planting seeds of friendship for over a decade through a series of deliberate engagements. It is time to take these cordial relations to the next level,” Ruto said.

The President noted that existing trade ties between the two countries had already shown growth in tea, flowers, fertiliser and logistics.

“Our trade ties are already blossoming in tea, flowers, fertiliser, and logistics, with a growing direct connection between Nairobi and Astana, as well as other countries in Central Asia,” he said.

Ruto said Kenya was now keen on exploring cooperation in finance, information and communication technology, tourism, energy and exchange programmes.

“We are committed to building on this foundation by exploring new opportunities in finance, ICT, tourism, energy and exchange programmes, with the overriding goal of fostering job creation, skills transfer, as well as expanding and opening new markets for our goods,” he said.

The Kazakhstan visit comes after the President attended the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan, where he promoted Kenya’s affordable housing agenda and called for reforms in the global financial system to address inequalities affecting African countries.

While addressing the forum at the Baku Convention Center, Ruto said Kenya’s Affordable Housing Programme had become one of Africa’s leading models for sustainable urban development and inclusive growth.

“Kenya’s Affordable Housing Programme continues to gain global recognition as one of Africa’s leading models for sustainable urban development, inclusive growth, and social transformation,” he said.

The President argued that rapid urbanisation across Africa and Asia required stronger financing frameworks and greater domestic resource mobilisation to support housing and infrastructure development.

During his stay in Baku, Ruto also held bilateral talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić on strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between Kenya and Serbia, particularly through expanded access for Kenyan agricultural products in European markets.

The Kazakhstan State Visit is expected to focus on trade expansion, connectivity and investment cooperation as Kenya seeks to diversify its global partnerships beyond traditional markets.

Kenya has in recent years intensified efforts to deepen engagement with Asian and Eurasian economies as part of broader plans to attract investment, increase exports and strengthen strategic international alliances.