Ruto heads to Washington for landmark peace deal and key US talks
By Kenneth Mwenda, December 2, 2025President William Ruto has left Nairobi for Washington, D.C., where he will join Presidents Paul Kagame and Félix Tshisekedi for the signing of the DRC–Rwanda Peace Agreement.
According to the press release by State House on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, the event, hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump, marks what Kenyan officials describe as the most important breakthrough in efforts to end decades of conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
State House said the deal builds on the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes and the joint work of the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community. The signing brings together all the main players involved in negotiations, and it is expected to open the way for disarmament, demobilisation, humanitarian access, and long-term stabilisation in the region.
“At the invitation of President Donald J. Trump, President William Ruto departs this afternoon for Washington, D.C., in the U.S.A. to join President Paul Kagame and President Félix Tshisekedi in witnessing the official signing of the DRC-Rwanda Peace Agreement; the most significant breakthrough in addressing decades of conflict in Eastern DRC,” the press release reads.
“Building on the Nairobi and Luanda Peace Processes as well as the joint EAC-SADC initiative, the Washington signing brings together all key parties and is expected to unlock pathways for disarmament, demobilisation, humanitarian access, and long-term stabilisation.”
Ruto’s trip comes a week after he publicly supported Trump’s intervention in the Sudan crisis. Speaking during a joint press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on November 24, Ruto warned that the situation in Sudan had become a severe humanitarian catastrophe and required stronger international engagement.
He said Kenya backed efforts by the U.S. to push for a political settlement.
“We also expressed support for America’s and President Trump’s intervention in the Sudan crisis,” Ruto said at the time.
He used the same platform to call for major reforms to the global financial architecture and for Africa to have two permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council, complete with veto powers. He argued it was unreasonable for a continent of 54 countries and more than one billion people to remain excluded from the world’s top decision-making organ.
Ruto also rejected claims that Kenya was giving refuge to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces in Nairobi. He said the claims were politically motivated and insisted that Kenya had maintained neutrality. In an interview earlier in November, he described both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF as responsible for the conflict and said military solutions would not end the crisis.
Ruto pursues strategic interests
As he travels to Washington, the State House spokesperson said Ruto will also focus on advancing Kenya’s economic and strategic interests. He will attend meetings on trade, investment, security cooperation, and health partnership.
“While in Washington, the President will participate in engagements aimed at advancing Kenya’s strategic interests in trade, investment, health cooperation, and security,” the press release reads.
“He will also witness the signing of the Kenya-U.S. Health Cooperation Framework, which shifts the 25-year partnership to a sustainable, government-led model aimed at advancing Universal Health Coverage and supporting a self-reliant health system by 2030.”
“In all scheduled engagements, President Ruto will endeavour to outline Kenya’s new economic transformation agenda towards a first-world economy, driven by human capital development, infrastructure expansion, agro-industrial growth, and expanded irrigation through extensive dam construction.”
“He will seek Public-Private Partnership (PPP) investment in these priority sectors, alongside enhanced energy security initiatives, to support the country’s long-term development aspirations.”