Ruto Flies to Burundi for High-Stakes Summit

President William Ruto is on a high-stakes mission in Burundi, where he arrived Thursday morning for the 23rd COMESA Summit. This gathering of Eastern and Southern African leaders offers Kenya a prime opportunity to cement its influence in regional trade, security, and diplomatic ties. Ruto is set to advocate for Kenya’s hosting of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) Secretariat—an essential hub linking COMESA, the East African Community (EAC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The TFTA Secretariat bid is part of Kenya's broader strategy to dominate the regional economic landscape, with a focus on enhancing regional value chains and eliminating trade bottlenecks. “The President’s engagements here are centered on deepening Kenya's relationships with strategic partners, with a shared commitment to reinforce regional integration and boost trade,” emphasized State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed.

At the summit, Ruto will also seek consensus on extending critical sugar safeguard measures, a step aimed at stabilizing and expanding the product’s market across COMESA. This move is part of Kenya's ongoing efforts to revitalize its agricultural exports and reduce trade imbalances with partner states.

Building Bilateral Bridges and Securing Strategic Endorsements

President Ruto’s agenda extends beyond the COMESA platform. On the sidelines, he is scheduled for high-profile meetings with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. These discussions will cover an ambitious range of topics, from forming a Kenya-Zambia Joint Trade Committee to tackle non-tariff barriers, to bolstering trade and investment with Egypt, a pivotal partner in the region.

Moreover, the President will leverage these bilateral talks to rally support for Kenya's bid to have one of its own as the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson. It remains unconfirmed whether Raila Odinga, Kenya’s preferred candidate for the AUC chair, will join Ruto in Bujumbura—a noteworthy absence if he does not, given his presence at previous engagements.

Shaping Africa’s Economic Future

The summit is a proving ground for Ruto’s foreign policy, aimed at positioning Kenya as a linchpin in Africa's economic growth. With key alliances and strategic endorsements at stake, Kenya’s influence in the continental power structure could be significantly bolstered, setting the stage for its future in regional and continental leadership.