Country | Areas visited | Date(s) | Purpose(s) | Notes |
France | Paris | 24 January | State Visit | Details | William Ruto met with president Emmanuel Macron and held bilateral talks. Talks about France's involvement in Infrastructure projects in Kenya along with potential funding for the East African Regional Force operating in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.[28] | |
Senegal | Dakar | 25–26 January | Feed Africa Summit | Details | Ruto along with various African leaders attended the Feed Africa Dakar 2 Summit. Ruto was a keynote speaker on Food, Sovereignty and Resilience. The summit hosted by the African Development Bank pledged to increase its investment in continental food production.[29] At the end of the summit, Ruto officially opened the Kenyan embassy in Senegal.[30] | |
Burundi | Bujumbura | 4 February | 20th Extraordinary summit of EAC heads of state | |
Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 17–19 February | 36th ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly | Details | Ruto made his first visit to an African Union Assembly summit since assuming office. The summit focused on food security on the continent. On the sidelines of the summit, President Ruto met: Also on the sidelines of the summit, Ruto, EAC leaders & João Lourenço discussed their ongoing intervention in DRC.[33] | |
Germany | Berlin | 27–28 March | 9th Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue | Details | Ruto attended The 9th Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue along with representatives from 90 other countries. Ruto was a keynote speaker where he declared Kenya's goal of attaining one hundred percent renewables for power supply by the year 2030.[34] After the conference also held bilateral talks with German chancellor Olaf Scholz.[35] | |
Belgium | Brussels | 29–30 March | State Visit | Details | Ruto held bilateral talks with the prime minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo, where they discussed health, food security, drought response, climate action, trade and investment.[36] President of the European Council Charles Michel also held talks with Ruto.[37] | |
Rwanda | Kigali | 4–5 April | State Visit | Details | This was Ruto's first state visit to Rwanda since becoming president where he met Paul Kagame. Both leaders discussed various bilateral issues and signed various agreements. Both presidents signed and ratified East Africa One Area Network for Mobile.[38] | |
Uganda | Kampala | 26 April | Heads of State Summit | Details | William Ruto made a day visit to Uganda to discuss with regional leaders at the "Heads of State Summit of the Troop Contributing countries to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia". Heads of state from Somalia, Djibouti, Burundi, and Ethiopia were all present along with the host Yoweri Museveni. With increasing conflicts in the area, Kenya is increasing its role to help stabilize the region.[39] | |
United Kingdom | London | 6–7 May | Coronation of Charles III and Camilla | Details | William Ruto attended the coronation of Charles III and Camilla along with various heads of states of the Commonwealth of Nations. On the sidelines, Ruto also held bilateral talks with various British investors to invest in Kenya.[40] | |
Netherlands | The Hague, Rotterdam | 7–8 May | Summit | Details | William Ruto attended the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) in Rotterdam to participate in a Strategic Dialogue on the Africa Climate Action Summit. After the summit, President Ruto held bilateral talks with King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.[citation needed] | |
Israel | Jerusalem | 9–10 May | State Visit | Details | Ruto made his first state visit to Israel. Ruto first met with Israeli president Isaac Herzog and held bilateral talks before heading to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Along with various high-level delegates from both countries, the two leaders signed various agreements in cooperation in agriculture, trade, education and security. This is the first high level visit between both countries after Ruto changed Kenya's stance on voting for Israel at the United Nations.[41] After the visit, Ruto visited the World Holocaust Remembrance Center and the Western Wall for prayers.[42] | |
South Africa | Midrand | 17 May | 3rd Pan African Parliamentarians Summit | Details | Ruto attended the 3rd Pan African Parliamentarians Summit on Climate Policy and Equity.[43] | |
Burundi | Bujumbura | 31 May | 21st Extraordinary summit of EAC heads of state | Details | A summit was convened by Burundi and other prominent members of the East African community, aiming to address the involvement of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) in the eastern region of Congo. The Democratic Republic of Congo had expressed its intention to terminate the force's mandate in peacekeeping amidst the M23 offensive. As part of the summit's proceedings, the forces mandate was extended and Aphaxxard Muthuri was formally appointed as the new force commander.[44] | |
Zambia | Lusaka | 7–8 June | 22nd Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) heads of State and Government Summit | Details | Ruto attended his first COMESA summit. During his keynote, Ruto proposed a single currency for Africa.[45] | |
Djibouti | Djibouti City | 11–12 June | State Visit & Ordinary Summit of Intergovernmental Authority on Development | Details | Ruto attended the Intergovernmental Authority on Development ordinary summit where the countries tried to deliberate the situation in the ongoing Sudan conflict. The members agreed to attempt to have direct talks with the Sudanese generals.[46] Before the summit, Ruto met with Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, president of Djibouti and held bilateral talks. They established the Kenya-Djibouti business council and Ruto declared the abolishment of visa requirements for Djibouti citizens to Kenya.[47] | |
Switzerland | Geneva | 15–16 June | 111th Annual International Labour Organisation conference | Details | Ruto attended the 111th Annual International Labour Organisation conference in Geneva. Ruto delivered a keynote speech at the conference. Prior to the speech, he also held bilateral talks with the Gilbert F Houngbo, the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation.[48][49] | |
France | Paris | 22–23 June | Global Pact Finance Summit | Details | Ruto participated in the Global Pact Finance summit held in Paris, France. This summit held significant importance for the Ruto administration, as the president persistently advocated for the establishment of new Multilateral Finance Institutions amidst foreign exchange shortages prevalent across the global south due to the strengthening US dollar.[50] Furthermore, Ruto took the opportunity to engage with Parisian youth at Champ de Mars during the Global Citizen Festival, where he discussed climate policies and extended an invitation to attend the Africa Climate Summit scheduled to take place in Nairobi in September.[51] | |
Comoros | Moroni | 6 July | State Visit | Details | Ruto was a guest of honor at the 48th independence anniversary of the Comoros islands. Ruto was invited by president Azali Assoumani where they held bilateral talks in increased economic co-operation. Ruto announced the abolition of tourist visas of Comoros citizens to Kenya by the end of 2023 and encouraged them to apply to join the East African Community. After the ceremony, Ruto was honored with the highest award in Comoros the Grand Cross of the Green Crescent of the Comoros.[52][53] | |
Republic of Congo | Brazzaville, Oyo | 7–8 July | State Visit | Details | Ruto presided over a Kenya-Congolese business forum along with counterpart Denis Sassou Nguesso. After this event the two presidents signed various MoUs in trade and investment, energy, ICT, transport, security, education, tourism, culture, agriculture, and the blue economy. Ruto announced that Kenya will abolish tourist visa requirements for citizens of the Republic of Congo. Ruto also announced the resumption of Kenya airways flights along with the fast track of opening a resident mission in Brazzaville.[54][55] Ruto also visited president Nguesso's private farm where he held talks with Central African Republic president Faustin-Archange Touadéra.[56] | |
Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 10 July | IGAD Summit | Details | Officials from the IGAD group of countries met in Ethiopia to discuss the peace road map in Sudan.[57] | |
Tanzania | Dar es Salaam | 25–26 July | World Bank Africa Human Capital Heads of State Summit | Details | Ruto attended the Africa Human Capital Heads of State Summit hosted by Samia Suluhu in Dar es Salaam. The summit was attended by several African heads of state.[58] | |
Mozambique | Maputo | 10–12 August | State Visit | Details | Ruto made a two day state visit to Mozambique, where he held bilateral talks with his counterpart Filipe Nyusi. Several MoUs were signed between the two countries and both leaders also attended the Mozambique-Kenya business investment forum.[59] | |
Uganda | Kampala | 13 August | State Visit | Details | William Ruto made a day trip to Kampala to discuss bilateral relations with president Yoweri Museveni.[60] | |
Tanzania | Dar es Salaam | 7 September | Africa Food Systems Forum 2023 | Details | William Ruto attended the Africa Food Systems Forum in Tanzania along with various other local regional leaders.[61] | |
United States | California, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., New York City | 15–25 September | Business Visit and Seventy-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly | Details | Ruto made a 10 day visit to the united states where he attended several events promoting Kenya and Kenyan businesses before he concluded his visit by attended the United Nations General Assembly. - Between September 15–16, Ruto attended a business forum in the Silicon valley where he met with various tech executives. Ruto met with CEO Tim Cook (Apple), Patrick Gelsinger (Intel), CFO Ruth Porat (Alphabet), COO Brad Smith (Microsoft) and other executives from Microsoft, Nike, GAP and Levi Strauss.[62]
- September 18, Ruto officially opened a Kenyan restaurant in New Jersey named Swahili Village.[62]
- September 19, Ruto met with Millennium Challenge Corporation CEO, Alice Albright to sign a US$60m program to help electrify busses that operate in Nairobi.[62]
On the sidelines of the UNGA summit, president Ruto held bilateral talks with various foreign heads of states such as: - President of Albania, Bajram Begaj and encouraged him to open an embassy in Kenya.[63]
- President of Slovakia, Zuzana Čaputová, and discussed supporting Kenya's E-mobility along with growing partnerships to enhance Kenya's fertiliser production and cybersecurity capacity.[63]
- President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani[64]
- Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark along with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of Sweden to discuss supporting peace initiatives in the Horn of Africa.[63]
- Vice President of The Gambia, Muhammad Jallow
- President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to committing to establishing a grain hub in the Port of Mombasa to address food shortage in East Africa.[65]
- Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni.[66]
- President of Angola, João Lourenço
- President of Switzerland, Alain Berset.[67]
- President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, where both leaders agreed on various bilateral trade agreements along with Dominican assistance to the Kenyan UN mission to Haiti.[67]
- President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, where continued cooperation was discussed in the healthsector between the two countries along with assistance to the Kenyan UN mission to Haiti[67]
- President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.[67]
- President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.[68]
- Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva.
- Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.[69]
On September 20, Haiti and Kenya declared they had established diplomatic relations on the sidelines of the UNGA summit. President Ruto discussed with various world leads on the possibility of Kenya leading a United Nations-backed security force to help fight escalating gang violence in Haiti. President Ruto and Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry witnessed the signing of the agreement.[62] | |
China | Beijing | 15–18 October | Third Belt and Road Initiative summit | Details | Ruto made his way to Beijing to participate in the tenth-anniversary summit of the Belt and Road Initiative. On the inaugural day, Ruto engaged in discussions with numerous prominent figures in the Chinese industry. During this time, Kenya and China's Energy International Group formalized a memorandum of understanding aimed at boosting investments in renewable energy within Kenya. Furthermore, Ruto held meetings with the leadership of the Chinese telecommunication company, Huawei, resulting in the signing of Memorandums of Understanding to expedite Kenya's digital transformation. On the sidelines of the Belt and Road Initiative summit, President Ruto engaged in talks with Pakistan's Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar.[70] Following the summit's conclusion, Ruto engaged in bilateral discussions with Chinese President Xi Jingping.[71][72] | |
Saudi Arabia | Riyadh | 24–25 October | Future Investment Initiative | Details | Ruto made a trip to Saudi Arabia to attend the Saudi Future Investment Initiative summit. Before the sumitt Ruto held bilateral talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.[73] Ruto gave a keynote address at the FII Summit.[74] | |
Republic of Congo | Brazzaville | 28 October | Three Basins Summit | Details | Ruto attended the Three Basins Summit hosted in Brazaville. During the summit, Ruto announced that Kenya will end visitor visa requirements to all African visitors by the end of the year.[75][76] | |
Saudi Arabia | Riyadh | 10–11 November | Saudi Arabia – Africa Summit | Details | Ruto attended the inaugural Saudi Arabia – Africa summit along with various other heads of states from Africa. On the sidelines of the summit the president held talks with the following: | |
Germany | Berlin | 20–21 November | 5th G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) Summit | Details | Ruto participated in the 5th G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) Summit held in Berlin, Germany. During the summit, he engaged in discussions with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on topics such as trade, investment, environmental conservation, and industrial promotion. Germany committed to providing assistance to further Kenya's initiatives in Haiti and promote peace in the Horn of Africa. Additionally, Ruto had meetings with World Bank President Ajay Banga and French President Emmanuel Macron.[80][81] | |
France | Strasbourg | 21 November | European Union Parliament Sitting | Details | Ruto addressed the European Union Parliament. Climate change and Migration were topics of note.[82] | |
Tanzania | Arusha | 23–24 November | EAC High-Level Forum on Climate Change and Food Security | Details | Ruto attended the EAC High-Level Forum on Climate Change and Food Security along with all the heads of state of the East African Community in a closed door session in Arusha. Salva Kiir Mayardit took over the leadership of the Community and Somalia was added as an 8th member of the union.[83] | |
United Arab Emirates | Dubai | 1–4 December | 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference | Details | Ruto attended the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference also known as COP28. On the sidelines of the summit, president ruto held talks with: Ruto was also on a panel to discuss "climate finance" and " accelerated partnership for renewables in Africa".[85] | |
India | New Delhi | 4–6 December | State visit | Details | Ruto made a state visit to india.[86] | |