President William Ruto has highlighted Japan’s central role in Kenya’s automotive sector, revealing that the country remains the leading source of motor vehicles for Kenya.

Speaking at the Kenya Investment Forum in Yokohama, Japan, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Ruto said that while Kenya exports products such as titanium, copper, tea, and flowers to Japan, the country relies heavily on Japanese motor vehicles for its use.

“Japan remains Kenya’s leading source of motor vehicles,” Ruto told the forum.

“While our exports ranging from titanium and copper to tea and flowers demonstrate the wide opportunities available in our markets,” he added.

Foreign investment

Ruto outlined the strong economic partnership between Kenya and Japan spanning various sectors such as trade, investment, and development cooperation.

Ruto further revealed that Japan is currently Kenya’s third-largest source of foreign direct investment, stating that it contributed Ksh26.5 billion in 2024.

“Japan is today Kenya’s third-largest source of foreign direct investment, contributing over Ksh26.5 billion in 2024 alone,” he revealed.

Bilateral trade

Ruto noted that bilateral trade between the two countries has also shown impressive growth, increasing by 33 per cent from the previous year, to reach Ksh116.3 billion in 2024.

“Bilateral trade reached Ksh116.3 billion in 2024, an increase of 33 per cent from the previous year,” he stated.

Additionally, he disclosed that he had discussed with his Japanese counterpart the need to balance trade between the two nations by improving market access for Kenyan exports.

“This morning, I had occasion to exchange notes with my Japanese counterpart on areas of collaboration that require our concerted effort to make it possible for Kenyan exports to find their way into the Japanese market so that we can travel the journey of balancing trade between our two nations,” he explained.

Development partnership

The head of state acknowledged Japan’s development assistance to Kenya over the past five decades, in support of various sectors.

“Over the past 50 years, Japan has extended more than Ksh646 billion in development assistance advancing Kenya’s transport, energy, agriculture, and health systems,” Ruto noted.

According to Ruto, there are currently 120 Japanese investors operating in Kenya across diverse sectors ranging from manufacturing and infrastructure to renewable energy and various technologies.

Ruto described these Japanese businesses as part of “a growing network of businesses that see Kenya as a gateway to the African market and a trusted partner in investment and growth.”