President William Ruto has offered to host Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, at the earliest opportunity as part of his call to deepen the Kenya-Japan partnership in tackling global challenges and promoting sustainable development.
In a message issued on the evening of Tuesday, October 21, Ruto congratulated Prime Minister Takaichi on her historic election, calling it a powerful vote of confidence in her leadership and a significant milestone for Japan’s democracy.
“Your victory is a testament to the confidence reposed in your vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the progress and prosperity of the Japanese people,” Ruto said in the statement.
"In this spirit, I look forward to engaging with Your Excellency at the earliest mutually convenient opportunity,” the Head of State wrote. “It would be a singular honour for Kenya to host you, Prime Minister, as we chart a renewed and ambitious path for the future of our partnership.”
Beyond the congratulatory tone, President Ruto used the letter to reaffirm Kenya’s commitment to its strategic ties with Japan and made an early call for stronger bilateral cooperation across key areas, including economic development, peace and security, and multilateral engagement on global issues.
“As you assume this worthy responsibility, I wish to reaffirm Kenya’s enduring commitment to the strategic partnership between our two nations,” Ruto stated, adding that Kenya deeply values the generous development cooperation Japan has extended over the years.
The president's letter came days after Takaichi, a hardline conservative and protégé of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, secured her position through a coalition between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the right-wing Japan Innovation Party.
Takaichi's rise to power marked a sharp shift in Japan's domestic and foreign policy direction, and expectations have now shifted to a stronger nationalist stance and more aggressive policies to revive Japan's economy.
Ruto, in his letter, reminisced on the success of past engagements with Japan, recalling the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9). During this conference,
Noting the success of previous engagements, Ruto recalled the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), where he held discussions with Takaichi’s predecessor Shigeru Ishiba and endorsed the joint declaration aimed at advancing mutual development.
In February 2024, Ruto made a state visit to Japan – the first State visit by a Kenyan Head of State since President Mwai Kibaki's 20 years ago.
“My participation in TICAD 9 provided an excellent opportunity to build upon the outcomes of my earlier visit to Japan, which focused on advancing private sector-led initiatives for mutual benefit,” Ruto said.
The President urged the new Prime Minister to keep Africa in her plans by engaging with countries like Kenya, which shares goals with superpowers like Japan.
He added, “Kenya seeks to deepen cooperation with Japan in addressing emerging global challenges and in reinforcing the international system to better serve our common interests.”
Prior to her appointment, Takaichi was the subject of an onslaught for naming only two women to her cabinet, which was short of her campaign promise to model gender parity after Nordic countries like Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway.
Despite the criticism, Ruto made it clear that Kenya remained a willing and reliable partner in Japan's foreign policy ambitions, particularly within Africa.
