Dodoma — President William Ruto of Kenya has called for decisive regional integration between the two East African nations, emphasising that competition and suspicion must give way to partnership and shared prosperity.
Addressing the Tanzanian Parliament on May 5, 2026, President Ruto described the conversation between Kenya and Tanzania as “significant and consequential” not only for the two countries but for the entire region and continent.
“At its core, it is about one central task: growing mutual trust to build shared strength,” President Ruto said, speaking before Speaker Musa Azan Zungu and members of parliament.
The Kenyan leader stressed that for far too long, relations among neighbouring countries have been shaped by competition, suspicion, and rivalry, forces that have fragmented markets and weakened collective progress.
“Yet our founding fathers saw beyond this prism,” he noted, referencing the vision of Julius Nyerere and Jomo Kenyatta. “They understood that Africa’s future would not be secured in isolation but in unity.”
Deep historical ties
President Ruto highlighted the deep historical ties between the two nations, noting that Tanzania stood with Kenya during the struggle for independence, including during the Mau Mau period, affirming a shared belief in freedom, dignity, and self-determination.
READ MORE: Tanzania and Kenya Forge Deeper Economic Ties at Historic Business Forum
The East African Community, established in 1967, was disrupted in 1977 but was rebuilt through dialogue and statesmanship, leading to its reestablishment in 1999.
“Today, that community stands renewed and expanded, but its foundation remains the same,” he said. “A growing partnership between our nations defined not by the absence of challenges but by our ability to overcome them.”
President Ruto underscored the shared geography, language, and culture that bind the two nations. The Kenya-Tanzania border stretches nearly 800 kilometres from the Indian Ocean to Lake Victoria, serving as a vibrant corridor of trade, culture, and human connection.
“We share a language, Kiswahili, spoken by over 100 million people across East Africa, making it one of the most widely spoken African languages and a powerful unifying force across our borders,” he noted.
He drew an analogy to the annual wildebeest migration between the Serengeti and Masai Mara, where millions of animals move freely between the two nations guided by survival, not borders.
“What nature has made seamless, policy must not make it difficult,” President Ruto stated.
Bilateral trade
On trade and investment, the Kenyan president noted that bilateral trade reached approximately US$860 million in 2025, up from US$950 million in 2024.
“We lost almost US$100 million of business between Tanzania and Kenya” due to non-tariff barriers, he said, expressing concern about the decline.
Kenyan enterprises have invested more than US$1.7 billion in Tanzania, creating jobs and advancing skills transfer across manufacturing, energy, logistics, financial services, and agriculture.
Tanzanian investments in Kenya, valued at approximately US$336 million, are steadily expanding, driving employment and deepening cooperation linkages.
“I expect this value of investments to more than double by the end of this year,” President Ruto said.
The Kenyan leader emphasised that cross-border investments are not merely flows of capital, but powerful catalysts for expanding trade and strengthening integrated supply chains.
Critical infrastructure projects
President Ruto highlighted critical infrastructure projects that will deepen integration, including the Malindi-Bagamoyo Super Highway, the planned railway expansion from Voi through Singida, and the 400-kilowatt Kenya-Tanzania power interconnector spanning over 500 kilometres.
READ MORE: After Pamoja Bid, Is a ‘Pamoja Refinery’ Coming Soon in East Africa?
He also mentioned the proposed Tanga oil refinery, noting that while he would have preferred such a facility in Mombasa, Tanga is less than 200 kilometres away and part of the same economic space.
“What is good for Tanzania is good for Kenya,” President Ruto declared. “And what is good for Kenya is good for Tanzania. We are one people. We have a common destiny.”
The president announced that Kenya and Tanzania have committed to eliminating all outstanding non-tariff barriers by the end of May 2026, with approximately 20 barriers identified for removal.
He commended President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership on this matter, saying the commitment reflects the political will of both nations to streamline commerce.
President Ruto also highlighted recent decisions by the East African Community, including the appointment of Tanzanian national Ambassador Steven Patrick Bundi as the new Secretary General, effective April 25, 2026.
He noted that the EAC has adopted a new financing model with 50 per cent equal contribution and 50 per cent assessed contribution, effective July 1, 2026, and agreed that the quorum for all EAC organs shall be two-thirds of partner states.
“All partner states must eliminate non-tariff barriers by June 30, 2026, without exception,” President Ruto said, emphasising the importance of implementation.
The Kenyan leader stressed that integration must be supported by strong, credible, and effective institutions, describing the recent EAC decisions as “the most consequential” he has witnessed in many meetings of the community.
Reforms
President Ruto also addressed broader continental and global issues, calling for reform of the African Union and the international financial architecture.
“A system that marginalises Africa cannot claim legitimacy,” he stated. “A global order that excludes a continent of 1.5 billion people is inherently incomplete.”
He emphasised that the United Nations Security Council, which excludes Africa, cannot effectively secure Africa, and called for representation in global governance structures.
On development financing, President Ruto argued that the current international financial architecture does not adequately respond to Africa’s realities, with the cost of capital remaining disproportionately high.
READ MORE: Tanzania, Kenya Suffer Nationwide Power Outages in Early Morning Hours
“If the cost of capital remains punitive, then the promise of development becomes performative,” he said.
The president concluded by emphasising that leadership demands honouring one’s word, fulfilling promises, and delivering on the trust placed by the people.
He extended an invitation to Tanzania’s private sector to partner in the transformation, saying: “Let us partner in this transformation. Let us invest together, build together, grow together so that the prosperity we create is not divided but shared.”
President Ruto’s address marked the culmination of his two-day state visit to Tanzania, during which he and President Samia signed eight new Memoranda of Understanding covering energy, agriculture, railway development, and other critical sectors.
