President William Ruto has departed for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to attend the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) Summit.
In a statement issued on Monday, January 13, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed confirmed that the President is scheduled to address the summit’s opening session, where he will spotlight Kenya’s achievements in renewable energy, particularly in geothermal power.
“The President is scheduled to speak during the opening session of the summit, whose theme is ‘Exploring the Global Energy Transition.’ He will highlight Kenya’s leadership in renewable energy, especially geothermal power, and explore opportunities for global partnerships to address energy challenges and promote green growth,” the statement read.
While in the UAE, Ruto is also expected to engage in bilateral talks with prominent global leaders, including UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
According to Mohamed, these discussions will focus on enhancing cooperation in energy, trade, investment, and technology, which are key areas of Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
“President Ruto will hold high-level bilateral discussions with key global leaders. These talks aim to strengthen collaboration in energy, trade, investment, and technology, aligning with Kenya’s economic transformation priorities,” he noted.
The visit is set to culminate in the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Kenya and the UAE. This agreement aims to simplify export procedures and boost UAE investments in Kenya’s economy.
“During the visit, Kenya and the UAE are expected to sign a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The agreement will enhance trade, investment, and development cooperation. As the UAE is Kenya’s sixth-largest export destination, this pact will further streamline export procedures, increase market access for trade in services, and attract investments in multiple sectors,” Mohamed explained.
The UAE is a key market for Kenyan exports such as tea, meat products, fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
This trip follows President Ruto’s visit to Uganda, where he attended the African Union Extraordinary Summit on the Post-Malabo Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
Ruto’s engagements underscore Kenya’s active role in promoting regional and global cooperation in trade, energy, and sustainable development.
