President William Ruto has said Kenya is positioning itself to access a market of more than 100 million consumers through the strengthening of the Mombasa-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) transport corridor.

In a statement shared on his X account on Thursday, June 11, 2026, following Kenya-Belgium bilateral talks with King Philippe, Ruto said the initiative is aimed at expanding trade and investment while reinforcing Kenya’s role as a gateway to Central Africa.

“Strengthening the Mombasa-DRC corridor to support regional trade and mineral exports,” Ruto said, outlining the focus of the discussions.

He added that the project will position Kenya’s transport systems as the preferred trade route for East and Central Africa, improving access to global markets.

“Position Kenya’s transport networks as the preferred trade route for East and Central Africa,” he said.

Gateway to Central Africa

Ruto noted that the corridor will play a central role in enhancing Kenya’s logistics capacity and expanding regional connectivity, particularly through the Port of Mombasa.

The initiative is expected to facilitate the movement of goods and support mineral exports from the DRC through Kenyan infrastructure.

Investment opportunities

The president said the corridor is also expected to attract significant investment into logistics, warehousing and port services, which are key sectors in Kenya’s economic transformation agenda.

Expanding market access

Ruto further said the long-term goal is to strengthen Kenya’s position as a regional trade hub with access to a wider consumer base.

“Enhance Kenya’s role as a gateway to the 100 million consumer Central African market,” he said.

He maintained that the initiative will expand opportunities for Kenyan businesses while deepening economic ties across the region.

Maritime and blue economy push

Ruto’s trade and logistics agenda comes as Kenya also strengthens cooperation with Norway in the maritime sector.

In a separate engagement in Oslo, the president said Kenya is working with Norway to expand opportunities in shipping, skills development, and the blue economy.

“We are advancing Kenya’s maritime and blue economy agenda through cooperation with Norway, exploring opportunities for investment, knowledge exchange, skills development, technology transfer, and job creation across the maritime economy,” he said.

Ruto also welcomed a commitment by Norwegian shipping firms to employ Kenyan seafarers, noting that 1,000 jobs are expected by 2030, with 120 to be secured by the end of the year.

The developments underscore Kenya’s broader push to expand trade routes, create employment opportunities and strengthen its position as a regional and global logistics hub.