President William Ruto landed in Tanzania Sunday night ahead of his two-day state visit, where he will hold bilateral talks with his host Samia Suluhu.
A statement by State House team delivered exactly at 10:51 p.m. indicated that the Head of State arrived in Dar es Salaam for official visit.
Ruto is set to hold a meeting with his host President Suluhu on Monday, October 10 - a date coinciding with Kenya's celebration of Utamaduni Day.
According to President Ruto's communication team, the visit is aimed at expanding business engagement between the two countries and bolster diplomatic ties.
"He is scheduled to hold talks with his Tanzanian counterpart, President Samia Suluhu on Monday.
"Kenya is keen on exploring ways of expanding business opportunities and increasing trade volumes with Tanzania. Tanzania is a strategic partner in the EAC region and has been Kenya’s second largest export destination after Uganda in East Africa," read the statement in part.
He was accompanied by his Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary nominee Dr Alfred Mutua, Defence CS nominee Aden Duale and First Lady Rachel Ruto among others.
Ruto arrived in Tanzania after a busy day hobnobbing with Ugandan Head of State and other officials where he reiterated the need to harmonise the region's business dealings pushing for the removal of trade barriers.
He advocated for open borders to foster business and free trade in the East African Community (EAC) and challenged Museveni to take charge in uniting the region.
"Your excellency as our elder, President Museveni you have the challenge to lead the charge in ensuring that we bring down the barriers and the borders so that we can have a borderless East Africa Community.
"We are looking in our lifetime in the next few years that people, goods and services can move across East Africa as we lead the way in enduring the African continental free trade area becomes a reality," he beseeched the Ugandan Head of State.
He also noted that he had instructed his Minister of Trade to reach out to the Ugandan counterpart to formulate and sign a guided trade agreement that will facilitate the African continental trade.
This is Ruto's fifth country to visit since his September 13 inauguration as Head of State. He has previously visited UK, USA, Ethiopia and Uganda.
Ruto, who was previously indicted by the International Criminal Court, ICC for crimes against humanity, following 2007/2008 post election violence, is all-out to shape and redefine his foreign policy.
Kenya and Tanzania have enjoyed cordial bilateral ties and the two countries depend on each other in different ways.
