Ruto hails Kenya-South Africa economies as drivers of continental development

Ruto hails Kenya-South Africa economies as drivers of continental development
Ruto hails Kenya-South Africa economies as drivers of continental development - Kenyan President William Ruto, with his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa, in Pretoria on June 4, 2026. (Photo: PCS)
Kenyan President William Ruto, with his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa, in Pretoria on June 4, 2026. (Photo: PCS)

President Ruto described Kenya and South Africa as complementary economies with the potential to accelerate the continent's development.

President William Ruto has highlighted the growing economic partnership between Kenya and South Africa, revealing that over 60 South African companies operate in Kenya and that bilateral trade reached approximately $680 million (about Sh87.72 billion) in 2025.
Speaking at the Joint South Africa-Kenya Business Forum in Johannesburg during a State Visit to South Africa at the invitation of President Cyril Ramaphosa, Ruto described Kenya and South Africa as complementary economies with the potential to accelerate the continent's development.
“From where I sit, I see two complementary economies with the combined power to drive Africa’s transformation,” he said.

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He noted that South Africa remains one of Africa’s leading industrial and financial powerhouses, while Kenya continues to strengthen its position as a gateway to East and Central Africa through a dynamic private sector, digital innovation, strategic infrastructure, and expanding regional trade.
The President said economic cooperation between the two countries continues to deepen across trade, investment, tourism, aviation, financial services, manufacturing, ICT and logistics.
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“Today, more than 60 South African companies operate in Kenya in banking, insurance, retail, manufacturing, telecommunications, infrastructure, and real estate,” he said.

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According to Ruto, South Africa remains among the leading sources of foreign direct investment in Kenya, even as Kenyan businesses increasingly expand into the South African market in search of new opportunities.
He said bilateral trade between the two countries reached approximately $680 million in 2025 (about Sh87.72 billion), but stressed that there was still significant room for growth.
“This is meaningful progress, but it is also a measure of how much potential remains untapped,” Ruto said.
Ruto noted that Kenya exports tea, coffee, horticultural products, cut flowers and manufactured goods to South Africa, while importing machinery, vehicles, pharmaceuticals, steel and industrial inputs.
He, at the same time, reiterated that the complementary nature of trade between the two countries provides a strong foundation for deeper industrial cooperation and the development of shared value chains.

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