Ruto heads to Japan

By DPPS

Deputy President William Ruto heads to Japan on Wednesday to attend the Tokyo International Conference on Africa’s Development (TICAD V).

Ruto will lead a Kenyan delegation to the conference and will be representing President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The conference that starts on June 1 aims to promote high-level policy dialogue between Japan and African leaders. It also provides an opportunity to strengthen cooperation and support to Africa’s political, economic reforms and development.

While in Japan, Ruto is also expected to discuss more opportunities for Kenya with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe mainly on matters concerning the energy sector, infrastructure and Mombasa Port Development.

He will also participate in other scheduled events of strategic importance to Kenya including the conference on Somalia and dialogue on the United Nations Security Council Reform agenda.

The stabilization of Somalia remains a top priority in Kenya’s foreign policy agenda as articulated in the African Union Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Deputy President will also hold meetings with senior representatives of leading Japanese public and private companies with business interests in Kenya to discuss strengthening of trade and investments between the two countries.

Ruto is accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Amina Mohamed (Foreign Affairs), Henry Rotich (Treasury), Davis Chirchir (Energy and Petroleum) and Michael Kamau (Transport and Infrastructure), among other senior government officials.

The TICAD V Conference starts on June 1 to June 3, 2013 in The Tokyo suburb city of Yokahama.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, World Bank and UNDP administrator Ms. Helen Clark will also attend the conference.