President William Ruto rolled out the red carpet for many global leaders who trooped to the State House in early May 2023.
On Thursday, May 4, the President met the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Petteri Taalas. WMO is a specialized United Nations (UN) agency that promotes international cooperation on atmospheric science, and geophysics.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General, as well, arrived in Kenya on the same day to discuss the digital economy, trade finance, and the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Previously, the Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida, was in Kenya for a two-day state visit on May 2 and 3, where he discussed a raft of deals between Kenya and Japan.
On May 3, Ruto met the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in Kenya on an official visit. Guterres was gracing a meeting of all the Chief Executives of the UN system. The UN Deputy SG, Amina Jane Mohammed, was also in attendance.
He further met the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva. The duo discussed funding avenues and signing deals with multi-lateral lenders.
On May 2, the President met Doreen Bogdan, the SG of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). ITU, the second-oldest international organisation in the world, was established on May 17, 1865. Bogdan is the first woman to serve as its head.
Later that same day,he met the Canadian Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly, who was in the country for a three-day visit. Joly met Canadians evacuated from Sudan to Kenya before moving on to Canada.
Ruto, additionally, met the AfriExim Bank President, Benedict Oramah. The meeting saw Kenya sign a three-year Ksh400 billion financing programme anchored on the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
On May 1, Ruto met the International Fund of Agricultural Development (IFAD) president Alvaro Lario. The two discussed how Kenya can revitalise the cotton, dairy, leather, tea, rice, and blue economy industries.
Moreover, he spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. They discussed the humanitarian situation in Sudan and how they could alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the troubled country.
Sudan's last civilian Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok, was in the country on May 2. He arrived in Kenya to attend the Mo Ibrahim Governance Weekend hosted on April 29. The event was graced by global leaders, including Moussa Faki, the African Union (AU) chairman.
Furthermore, on Friday, May 5, Ruto is expected to host the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, where they will discuss a raft of deals.
US Ambassador Meg Whitman, on Tuesday, April 25, explained why America's interest in Kenya increased. During a roadshow in New York, she explained that Kenya has one of the best democracies in Africa and is the gateway to the East African market, with over 500 million consumers and has better infrastructure, with Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) serving more than 40 international airlines.
"Kenya has the Silicon Savanah, with super smart engineers," she stated. "It is the leading destination for foreign direct investment and venture capital," she detailed.
