![[PHOTOS] Ruto arrives in Egypt for two-day state visit](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.eu-central-1.linodeobjects.com%2Fimage%2F2025%2F01%2Fae2e15ec-083d-43e1-91f2-256f0959551a.JPG&w=3840&q=75)
President William Ruto will leverage his trip to Egypt to rally support for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in his race for the African Union Commission (AUC) seat.
Ruto arrived in Cairo Wednesday morning for a State visit accompanied by a delegation of Cabinet Secretaries including Aden Duale (Environment), Lee Kinyanjui (Trade) and Eric Mugaa (Water).
He is set to engage in bilateral talks with his host Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
Raila who has been on a whirlwind tour of North Africa over the past one week as he intensifies his campaigns joined Ruto in the country.
The highly-anticipated elections are slated for February 15 and 16.
Raila will square it out with Mahmoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti and Madagascar's Richard Randriamandrato.
The winner is required to garner the support of two-thirds of the 55 countries eligible to vote, translating to 33 African Union member states.
As of January 15, Raila had secured at least 21 endorsements.
“We are very confident that the successful bid of Raila is going to see the fortunes of our continent change for the better going into the future,” Ruto said during a recent event.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi arrived in Cairo Tuesday to lay ground for the talks between the two leaders that will culminate in the signing of several bilateral agreements.
Kenya and Egypt have enjoyed a deep and lasting economic, diplomatic, and political relationship for over 60 years now, and Cairo visit seeks to strengthen it.
Ruto said the two countries are committed to diversifying trade, especially in agriculture, manufacturing, meat and meat products.
Since the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting in March 2024, both countries have finalised eight MOUs which are set to be signed.
These MOUs are in the fields of political consultations, diplomatic training, investment facilitation, cooperation in ports, youth, higher education gender equality, and women empowerment.
Egypt is Kenya's second largest tea importer after Pakistan.
Kenya’s total average exports to Egypt were valued at approximately $176.04 million (Sh22.8 billion) while imports from Egypt were valued at approximately $340.10 million (Sh44.2 billion).
In March last year, Mudavadi and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry signed four MOUs on Trade and Investments, Agriculture, Tourism, Energy and Infrastructure development.