Kenya courts Malaysia’s economic lessons as PM Anwar makes first official visit
Malaysia is regularly invoked by Kenyan politicians as a benchmark—once comparable to Kenya at independence, but now an upper-middle-income economy.
Kenya hosted Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for a state banquet at State House, Nairobi, on Sunday, with President William Ruto praising Malaysia's economic transformation and recalling that both countries "began at a similar footing at independence."
"Malaysia's journey continues to inspire us and proves that discipline, focus and bold leadership can transform a nation," Mr Ruto said in a post on Monday.
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It is Anwar's first official visit to Kenya since taking office in 2022.
At the banquet, he commended Kenya's focus on poverty alleviation and affordable housing, describing it as "remarkable leadership".
"I am, like you, very, very passionate about poverty alleviation, housing for the poor and for the masses," he said, linking Kenya's agenda to Malaysia's own efforts to tackle extreme poverty.
Ruto stated that his administration aims to construct 150,000 housing units for low-income communities.
PM Anwar told the Kenyan president that, should he sustain domestic reforms, he "will be a star in Africa," stressing that he spoke as a "sincere friend" and "not out of exaggeration."
Malaysia is regularly invoked by Kenyan politicians as a benchmark—once comparable to Kenya at independence, but now an upper-middle-income economy.
In his recent State of the Nation address, Ruto cited the rise of the Asian Tigers—Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia—as evidence that excellence, not mediocrity, drives national transformation.
Kenya opened its first Southeast Asian mission in Kuala Lumpur in 1996, which is also accredited to Brunei.
The visit is expected to advance cooperation in trade, investment and development policy.
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