President William Ruto has been awarded Kazakhstan’s prestigious Order of Dostyk, First Degree, in a major diplomatic milestone that signals Kenya’s deepening ties with the Central Asian nation during his State Visit to Astana.
The Order of Dostyk, also known as the Order of Friendship, is among Kazakhstan’s highest national honours and is awarded to leaders and individuals who promote peace, cooperation, diplomatic relations and friendship between nations.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev conferred the award on Ruto as the two leaders oversaw the signing of several bilateral agreements expected to open new economic opportunities between Kenya and Kazakhstan.
William Ruto and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also witnessed the signing of cooperation deals covering ICT and e-government services, agriculture, transport and infrastructure, finance, tourism, mining, climate action, exploration and space technology.
The agreements are expected to strengthen trade and investment links between Nairobi and Astana, with Kenya seeking to position itself as Kazakhstan’s strategic gateway into East Africa.
Discussions also focused on linking Kazakhstan’s transport corridors with Kenya’s Northern Corridor and the LAPSSET Corridor to boost regional trade and logistics connectivity.
Ruto said the partnership would focus on job creation, skills transfer and expanding markets for Kenyan products, noting that trade ties between the two countries were already growing in tea, flowers, fertiliser and logistics.
The visit also reflects Kenya’s growing push to diversify diplomatic and economic partnerships beyond its traditional allies, as Ruto’s administration intensifies efforts to attract foreign investment, technology transfer and new export markets.
Kazakhstan has in recent years positioned itself as a major economic and transport hub in Central Asia, making the partnership strategically important for Kenya’s trade ambitions.
