State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed has released the official itinerary of President William Ruto’s visit to Japan, confirming that the Head of State is scheduled to leave the country on the evening of Monday, August 18, 2025.

According to the statement, President Ruto will travel to Yokohama for the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9).

Hussein Mohamed noted that the visit comes at a time when Japan’s partnership with Kenya has reached a value of more than Ksh600 billion, positioning Kenya as the top recipient of Japanese support in Africa.

The trip is expected to strengthen ties between the two nations by opening up greater opportunities in trade, investment, and development cooperation.

The statement outlined that discussions will concentrate on major infrastructure programmes. These include the expansion of the Mombasa Port, the development of the Mombasa Port Area Road, the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone, and improvements to Nairobi’s urban transport network.

Hussein Mohamed also pointed out that other priority areas of cooperation will involve agriculture, forestry, climate change, rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure, and reforestation initiatives.

Furthermore, both countries will pursue collaborations in education, with a focus on science, technology, and innovation aimed at nurturing skilled talent.

“Discussions will focus on flagship infrastructure projects, including the Mombasa Port expansion, the Mombasa Port Area Road Development, the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone, and Nairobi’s urban transport systems. Other areas of collaboration include agriculture, forestry, and climate change, with Japan already supporting the rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure and reforestation efforts.” The statement read.

Address at TICAD-9

In his address at TICAD 9, President Ruto is expected to emphasize the importance of deeper African integration as a pathway to unlocking economic potential. The State House communication highlighted that he will champion the African Continental Free Trade Area as a tool for inclusive growth, advocate for the elimination of trade barriers, and encourage increased Japanese investment in key sectors.

“At TICAD 9, President Ruto will call for deeper African integration and connectivity to unlock economic potential. He will emphasise the African Continental Free Trade Area as a driver of inclusive growth, urge the removal of trade barriers, and seek stronger partnerships with Japan to boost investment in priority sectors” he added.

 He will also underscore the urgency of upgrading infrastructure, energy systems, logistics, and digital networks to better link Africa with global markets.

Bilateral talks with world leaders

Hussein Mohamed further confirmed that, on the sidelines of the summit, President Ruto will engage in bilateral talks with several world leaders, most notably Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

In addition, he will be received at the Imperial Palace by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. According to the spokesperson, the discussions with Prime Minister Ishiba will revolve around enhancing the Kenya-Japan partnership and identifying new areas for trade, investment, and international cooperation.

The State House statement concluded that the President’s engagements in Japan are not only geared towards strengthening bilateral ties but also advancing Kenya’s strategic position in Africa’s economic transformation.