- Mwaura said talks with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saw the signing of deals worth $5bn (Sh450 billion) in investments in Kenya.
- Ruto has maintained that he will not shun foreign trips as long as it offers investment in the country.
Image: HANDOUT
Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura has defended President William Ruto’s trips abroad saying they have yielded numerous benefits for the nation.
He said the trips have emphasised Kenya’s commitment to fostering international relations that enhance Kenya’s economic prosperity and global influence.
“The President has made 39 foreign visits and we have hosted over 30 heads of states and governments, signing mega bilateral and multilateral agreements further stamping Kenya’s authority as a diplomatic powerhouse,” Mwaura said.
The government spokesman said the visits have secured 350,000 job opportunities for Kenyans to work in Saudi Arabia.
He said talks with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saw the signing of deals worth $5bn (Sh450 billion) in investments in Kenya.
He named other benefits as official opening of the Kenyan embassy in Senegal; signing and ratifying East Africa One Area Network for Mobile Telephony with his Rwandan Counterpart President Paul Kagame and establishment of the Kenya-Djibouti business Council.
He further cited signing of various MoUs in trade and investment, energy, ICT, transport, security, education, tourism, culture, agriculture, and the blue economy with his Congo Congo counterpart President Denis Sassou Ngweso and resumption of Kenya Airways flights to Brazzaville.
Mwaura said President Xi Jingping committed his country to opening Chinese markets to Kenyan agricultural produce and signed MoU aimed at and easing doing business with Kenya.
“The Chinese embassy has cancelled visa appointments for Kenyans as a result of this engagement,” he said.
He added that China signed MoU aimed at boosting investments in renewable energy within Kenya.
Ruto has defended his overseas trips saying they are a necessary part of his delivery as the Head of State.
The Head of State is said to have visited 45 cities in 38 countries over the course of 83 days compared to Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is said to have visited 53 countries during his two terms of governance.
“They are people on my case as to why I am making foreign trips. That’s my mandate as the President. I am the chief agent of Kenya and ambassador who will plan on how the country will move forward,” said Ruto said on October 29, after landing in the country from his 39th trip.
Ruto has maintained that he will not shun foreign trips as long as it offers investment in the country.
Some of the countries the Head of State has traveled to include the United Kingdom, France, Mozambique, Egypt, Eritrea, Rwanda, South Korea, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.