South Africa and Kenya Deepen Strategic Partnership During President Ruto's State Visit
5 June 2026
South Africa and Kenya have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, advancing African integration and promoting the continent's interests on the global stage following the State Visit of Kenyan President William Ruto to South Africa on 4 June 2026.
President Ruto was welcomed by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where the two leaders held bilateral discussions focused on trade, investment, regional integration, peace and security, global governance reform and cooperation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
President Ramaphosa described the visit as a reflection of the enduring relationship between the two countries.
"It is a profound honour and a personal joy to welcome President Ruto and the Kenyan delegation to South Africa. This reciprocal State Visit is a celebration of the friendship and solidarity that binds our two nations," he said.
The visit built on the foundation established during President Ramaphosa's State Visit to Kenya in November 2022 and ongoing engagements through the South Africa-Kenya Joint Commission for Cooperation.
As two of Africa's leading economies, both leaders emphasised the importance of cooperation in advancing the continent's development agenda.
"Our partnership carries significance not only for our citizens but for the broader African project of integration, industrialisation and inclusive growth," President Ramaphosa said.
The leaders highlighted progress made through the AfCFTA and welcomed outcomes from the 7th Session of the South Africa-Kenya Joint Trade Committee held in Pretoria in April 2026. Discussions focused on addressing trade imbalances, removing barriers to trade and strengthening regional value chains.
President Ramaphosa noted that cooperation between the two countries is expanding into strategic sectors including green energy, climate-smart industrialisation, digital trade, artificial intelligence, e-mobility, maritime cooperation and skills development.
"Such cooperation will create opportunities to transform lives, empower young people and build resilient economies," he said.
A key theme throughout the visit was the role South Africa and Kenya can play in shaping Africa's voice in international affairs.
Responding to questions from journalists after the bilateral talks, President Ramaphosa rejected any suggestion of rivalry between the two countries.
"We are not rivals. South Africa and Kenya never see ourselves as rivals. We are complementary, and we have our own special strategic relationship that speaks to friendship, that speaks to respect, and that speaks to equality between our two nations," he said.
He added that the two countries frequently find common ground on continental and international issues and continue to work closely through institutions such as the African Union.
President Ramaphosa pointed to cooperation in peace initiatives in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and South Sudan as examples of how the two countries are working together to support stability on the continent.
"Our work is based on cooperation. We cooperate well together, and we are able to come up with initiatives that are aligned, that are aimed at resolving problems on a peaceful basis, and that are aimed at advancing the interests not only of our two countries but also of other countries, sister countries on our continent," he said.
President Ruto argued that Africa is increasingly influencing global discussions rather than observing them from the sidelines.
"It is our very considered view, working as people from the African continent, that for a very long time, our voice, our ideas and proposals did not find their way to fora that could influence global discourse. That has changed. We have taken a very firm position. We have put forward very clear proposals on what we think as a continent," he said.
The Kenyan President cited growing international recognition of the need to reform the global financial architecture, including the role of international financial institutions and global credit rating systems.
“The matter of the reform of the international financial architecture was very remote. Many people did not believe that there was a problem on how the Bretton Woods institutions, how access to affordable financing, how countries were treated in terms of credit rating, and how that significantly undermined Africa's development,” he said.
“Today, there is greater appreciation that there is something fundamentally wrong with the global architecture as it stands,” he said.
Ruto highlighted the establishment of an African credit rating agency and growing calls for reform of global financial institutions as evidence that Africa's concerns are being heard.
“There is a realisation by the global financial architecture that they need to redesign their engagement with the African continent,” he said.
President Ruto also highlighted Africa's representation in the G20 as an example of the continent's growing influence.
"Today, Africa is represented at the G20. It is a reform that is undertaken because of the push from those of us from this side of the world," he said.
He praised South Africa's G20 Presidency for elevating African priorities within global discussions and said he would carry the same message to the upcoming G7 Summit.
"South Africa became the first African country to host the G20 and I have said here that we commend South Africa and President Ramaphosa, specifically, for taking the stage and positioning Africa rightfully, and our priorities, our concerns, and what we believe the world should look at going forward."
Migration was another topic discussed during the visit. President Ramaphosa confirmed that South Africa is considering diplomatic initiatives and engagements with countries across Africa and beyond to address migration challenges through cooperation.
"We are talking to a number of sister countries on our continent, with a view of getting more understanding," he said.
The President also confirmed that South Africa intends deploying envoys as part of its diplomatic efforts to address migration through international cooperation.
The leaders further discussed the importance of strengthening continental institutions, including reforms within the African Union and mobilising African resources for African development.
President Ruto said African development finance institutions should play a greater role in financing infrastructure and development projects across the continent.
"What we are saying is that we need our development finance institutions on the continent to mobilise these resources and make them available for the development of our continent," he said.
Towards the conclusion of the State Visit, South Africa and Kenya signed six new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), bringing the total number of bilateral agreements between the two countries to 34.
The agreements cover trade facilitation through cooperation in standardisation and technical regulations, shipping and maritime cooperation, gender equality and women empowerment, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), arts, culture and heritage, and sport and recreation.
President Ramaphosa said the agreements would provide a framework for expanding cooperation across several sectors.
"The Memoranda of Understanding that we have just signed provide a legal framework to further expand our cooperation," he said.
President Ruto described the agreements as evidence of an expanding relationship between the two countries.
"As a statement for growing ties, we have today witnessed the signing of six instruments," he said.
The two leaders also highlighted growing people-to-people ties following the introduction of visa-free travel for citizens of both countries for visits of up to 90 days. Increased cooperation between Kenya Airways and South African Airways was identified as another important step in strengthening tourism, business travel and connectivity between East and Southern Africa.
Reflecting on the broader significance of the visit, President Ramaphosa said the partnership between South Africa and Kenya extends beyond bilateral interests.
"This State Visit has further strengthened the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our two countries. It has laid a firm foundation for deeper collaboration in trade, investment, industrialisation, infrastructure development, skills development and regional integration."
The visit reinforced a shared commitment by Pretoria and Nairobi to use their partnership to support economic growth, strengthen continental institutions and advance Africa's voice in shaping the future global order.
TDS and SAnews.gov.za
