President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto arrived in Pretoria, South Africa, on Wednesday evening for a two-day State Visit aimed at boosting cooperation between Kenya and South Africa.

The Head of State and his delegation were received in the South African capital as both countries reaffirmed their longstanding relationship, which spans more than 30 years.

The visit is expected to focus on expanding diplomatic, economic and social collaboration.

“South Africa and Kenya have grown into a strategic partnership, particularly in areas such as trade, investment, pharmaceuticals and vaccine development,” President Ruto said.

He also highlighted the shared goal of advancing Africa’s broader economic transformation.

He noted that South Africa’s diversified economy, especially its manufacturing sector, continues to reflect the continent’s industrial capacity and presents opportunities that other African countries, including Kenya, can learn from and build upon.

The President also pointed to the steady increase in trade between the two countries, citing the growing presence of South African companies operating in Kenya, which he said has contributed to employment creation and overall economic growth.

He emphasized that both governments are committed to strengthening existing cooperation while identifying new areas of partnership in trade, innovation and people-to-people exchanges during the course of the visit.

The State Visit is expected to further reinforce diplomatic relations and open discussions on expanding collaboration in key sectors of mutual interest.