President William Ruto has called for an end to long-standing mistrust between East African nations, warning that suspicion and rivalry continue to slow down the region’s economic progress.
Speaking during a special address to the Parliament of Tanzania in Dodoma on Tuesday, the President said the future of the region depends on trust, cooperation and shared growth.
At the heart of his message was a blunt admission that relations among neighbouring countries have for years been shaped by competition rather than partnership, a reality he said must change.
“The conversation we are having today is about one central task: growing mutual trust to build shared strength,” Ruto said.
He cautioned that failure to confront this mistrust risks pushing the region back into the same mistakes that led to the collapse of the original East African Community in 1977.
Ruto argued that Kenya and Tanzania are not just neighbours but deeply connected economies whose success depends on cooperation. He pointed to shared history, culture and even cross-border communities as evidence that the two countries are already intertwined.
Beyond the rhetoric, the President made a strong economic case for unity, noting that trade between the two countries is growing steadily but still far below its full potential.
He revealed that bilateral trade hit about $860 million in 2025 and is on track to reach $1 billion, signalling rising economic opportunity between the two nations.
The President also highlighted growing cross-border investments, with Kenyan companies investing over $1.7 billion in Tanzania, while Tanzanian investments in Kenya continue to expand.
Ruto said the next phase of growth will depend on deeper integration, including removing trade barriers, aligning policies and investing in shared infrastructure.
He framed this cooperation as critical not just for governments, but for millions of young people entering the workforce across the region.
“Young people are not looking for charity. They are looking for opportunity,” he said, linking economic integration directly to job creation.
The address comes at a time when East African countries are under pressure to strengthen regional ties amid global economic uncertainty, with Ruto positioning Kenya and Tanzania as key drivers of that agenda.