• Ruto's spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said the travel is at the invitation of President Kagame.
• In the election, Kagame smashed his own record by winning Monday's elections with more than 99 per cent.
Image: PCS
President William Ruto has left the country for Rwanda to attend the inauguration of President Paul Kagame for his fourth term, on Sunday.
In a statement, Ruto's spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said the travel is at the invitation of President Kagame.
"President William Ruto travels to Kigali, Rwanda, today at the invitation of H.E. Paul Kagame Paul Kagame to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Kagame for his fourth term, following the successful July 15, election," he said.
"Under President Kagame, Kenya-Rwanda relations have blossomed, with commercial and people to people ties further consolidating for the mutual benefit of both countries and the region."
This will be Ruto's first trip outside the country since the outbreak of countrywide anti-government protests.
The protests, though scaled down, are now in their third month, with the last being on Thursday, August 8, 2024.
Kagame will be sworn in for his fourth term in office in a ceremony expected to be graced by more than 20 Heads of State and government.
The event, to be held at Amahoro Stadium, is expected to draw a crowd of over 40,000 people.
Kagame was declared the winner of the election with 8,822,794 votes (99.18 per cent).
His closest challenger Habineza Frank garnered a paltry 44,479 votes, while the third candidate Mpayimana Philippe had only 28,466 votes.
In the election, smashed his own record by winning Monday's elections with more than 99 per cent.
The 66-year-old won the 2017 election with 98.63 per cent of the vote, higher than the 93 per cent he got in 2010 and the 95 per cent in 2003.
The electoral commission barred at least three presidential aspirants, including the president's most vocal critics, from contesting.
President William Ruto was among the first leaders who congratulated Kagame after his re-election.