[PHOTOS] Ruto arrives in Egypt for two-day state visit

President William Ruto and his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi/PCS

President William Ruto has arrived in the Egyptian capital Cairo for a two-day state visit.

The President left Nairobi early Wednesday, a day after he attended Mission 300 for Africa Energy Summit in Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam City.

Ruto was received by his Egyptian counterpart Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi at the headquarters of the Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Heliopolis.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and Environment CS Aden Duale are among the dignitaries who have accompanied the President during the visit.

President William Ruto and his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi/PCS

Mudavadi had earlier indicated that the two countries would sign bilateral agreements during the visit.

Mudavadi, who is also the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary, noted that Kenya and Egypt have enjoyed deep and lasting economic, diplomatic, and political relations for decades, and the Cairo visit seeks to strengthen it.

Mudavadi highlighted that the visit marks a key milestone in Kenya-Egypt relations, with 12 strategic MOUs set to enhance cooperation and foster mutual growth.

A guard of honour mounted by Egyptian forces/PCS

Egypt is Kenya's second-largest tea importer after Pakistan.

On January 16, Ruto met the Egyptian envoy to Kenya, Wael Nasreldin Attiya, at State House Nairobi for discussions aimed at bolstering cooperation between the two nations.

Ruto noted that the two nations are keen on expanding diplomatic, trade, and cooperative ties, which have evolved over the past six decades.

President William Ruto introduces his delegation/PCS

Ruto noted the deep-rooted historical connections that began in the 1950s, when Egypt played a significant role in supporting Kenya’s struggle for independence.

“Relations between Kenya and Egypt go back to the 1950s, when the North African country supported our fight for independence and freedom,” he said.