President William Ruto has announced that Kenya and the European Union (EU) have agreed to elevate their longstanding diplomatic relationship into a comprehensive strategic partnership.
The partnership is aimed at expanding trade, attract investment, create employment opportunities and strengthen cooperation in security, technology and sustainable development.
President Ruto made the announcement on Thursday, November 12, when he hosted Heads of European Union Delegations to African countries at State House, Nairobi during celebrations marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between Kenya and the European Union.
He said the new partnership would be anchored in multilateralism, respect for international law, democratic governance and sustainable development.
“We agreed to elevate our partnership into a comprehensive strategic partnership anchored in multilateralism, international law, democratic governance and sustainable development,” Ruto said.
He challenged both parties to move beyond diplomatic commitments and ensure that their cooperation translates into tangible benefits for citizens, businesses and investors on both sides.
President Ruto highlighted the European Union’s importance to Kenya’s export sector, as the EU remains Kenya’s largest export market, accounting for approximately 21% of the country’s global exports.
He added that the two sides should prioritize the full implementation of the Kenya -EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which will ensure it addresses barriers that continue to constrain smallholder producers, including sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, high freight costs and inadequate cold-chain infrastructure.
“We must now translate the Economic Partnership Agreement into tangible benefits,” Ruto said.
He said Kenya and the EU would explore opportunities to expand European investment in key sectors of the Kenyan economy, where he identified manufacturing, infrastructure, agriculture, energy and healthcare as priority areas where European investors could play a greater role.
Kenya hopes to leverage the initiative to attract additional European public and private sector financing for projects that support economic transformation.
Kenya and the European Union expressed interest in strengthening cooperation in fibre-optic connectivity, artificial intelligence and digital public services as Kenya positions itself as a regional technology and innovation hub.
The two partners also intend to deepen collaboration in digital services, an area that could improve government efficiency, service delivery and access to public information.
It could also help accelerate the growth of technology sector, support innovation among young entrepreneurs and attract international technology companies.
President Ruto also welcomed the longstanding support for African Union led security missions, particularly operations supporting stability in Somalia.
He highlighted a €20 million (Ksh 3 billion) contribution, towards strengthening the operational capabilities of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
He challenged both sides to move beyond declarations and translate their commitments into concrete results.
“We must move from dialogue to delivery, from pledges to investments, and from cooperation to measurable outcomes,” he said.
Present were Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei, EU Ambassador to Kenya Andreas Peschke and EU ambassadors based in 44 African countries.
Mudavadi said African and European countries should work together to identify ways of strengthening multilateralism and responding to emerging global challenges.
EU Ambassador to Kenya Andreas Peschke described the 50-year relationship between Kenya and the EU would be strengthened to accelerate job creation, expand trade and investment, enhance peace and security and deepen people-to-people interactions.
