William Samoei Ruto has arrived in Astana, Kazakhstan, for a two-day state visit aimed at strengthening trade, investment, and diplomatic relations between Kenya and Kazakhstan.

He travelled to Kazakhstan after attending the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Azerbaijan. The State Visit marks the next leg of his official trip focused on expanding Kenya’s global economic partnerships.

State House said the visit builds on more than a decade of growing engagement between the two countries. Kenya and Kazakhstan have maintained diplomatic and trade relations through regular exchanges and high-level visits.

In a statement shared on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Ruto said both countries are ready to deepen cooperation.

“Kenya and Kazakhstan have been planting seeds of friendship for over a decade through series of deliberate engagements. It is time to take these cordial relations to the next level,” he said.

Kenya currently has trade ties with Kazakhstan involving tea, flowers, fertiliser, and other agricultural products. The government also notes growing logistics links and increased connectivity between Nairobi and Astana, which have supported trade flows.

During the visit, Ruto is expected to hold bilateral talks with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The discussions will focus on expanding cooperation in trade, logistics, energy, ICT, tourism, financial services, and labour mobility.

Officials say the two leaders will witness the signing of agreements covering investment promotion, transport, ICT development, tourism cooperation, and diplomatic engagement.

The Kenyan delegation is also pushing for practical projects that can improve trade access. These include the establishment of a logistics hub at either the Port of Mombasa or Lamu, as well as tea and coffee trading hubs in Astana to support Kenyan exports.

Focus on strategic cooperation

The visit is also expected to explore new areas of cooperation in nuclear energy, cybersecurity, space technology, and financial services. Government officials say these sectors could open new opportunities for skills transfer and innovation.

Ruto said Kenya wants to build partnerships that create jobs and open new markets. He added that his administration is focused on expanding opportunities for young people through international cooperation and investment.

“We are committed to building on this foundation by exploring new opportunities in finance, ICT, tourism, energy, and exchange programmes, with the overriding goal of fostering job creation, skills transfer, as well as expanding and opening new markets for our goods,” he said.

The Kazakhstan trip follows Ruto’s participation in the global housing forum in Azerbaijan, where Kenya showcased its Affordable Housing Programme. The programme has been used to position Kenya as a regional leader in urban development.

The back-to-back international engagements come at a time when the government faces pressure at home over rising fuel prices. The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority recently increased pump prices, triggering a nationwide matatu strike.

However, the planned disruption linked to the fuel protests has been postponed for one week after the government and transport operators agreed to continue negotiations while services resume across the country.