By Akani Nkuna
President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday host his Kenyan counterpart President William Ruto on a state visit at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
The Presidency said the visit is expected to focus on strengthening bilateral relations and elevating them towards a “Strategic Partnership.”
“President Ramaphosa will lead South Africa’s delegation to official talks with President Ruto where discussions will range across bilateral, multilateral, economic, regional and continental issues,” the Presidency said on Wednesday.
South Africa and Kenya enjoy cordial relations, reflected in 28 signed agreements and memoranda of understanding across sectors including education, sports, defence, water and sanitation, and trade.
However, there has recently been speculation about the state of relations after Ruto did not attend South Africa’s G20 meeting, the first hosted on African soil. His absence was widely interpreted as signalling a shift in Kenya’s strategic priorities.
Ruto and his delegation later conducted a state visit to the United States, where they were received at the White House by President Donald Trump, just over a week after South Africa hosted the G20.
In what some analysts viewed as a reciprocal diplomatic gesture, Ramaphosa declined an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron to attend the France-Africa Summit in Kenya last month, held from 11 to 12 May, citing other pressing commitments.
Despite perceptions of strain, the Presidency reiterated that Kenya remains one of South Africa’s largest trading partners outside the SADC region, with more than 60 South African companies operating in Kenya across various sectors of the economy.
Engagements will be preceded by the SA–Kenya Business Forum in Midrand later on Thursday, bringing together business leaders from both countries and government officials to strengthen economic cooperation.
“The Business Forum will focus on deepening economic cooperation, facilitating business partnerships and exploring strategies to unlock the full potential of trade and investment between the two countries in mutually beneficial strategic sectors,” said the Presidency.
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