Kenya and Japan have strengthened their bilateral ties with a new set of agreements signed during the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama. The meeting coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations and highlighted a renewed commitment to cooperation in finance, trade, healthcare, technology, and peace-building. President William Ruto underscored that the accords reflect Kenya’s ambition to accelerate industrial growth, diversify financing channels, and embrace innovation-led development.
One of the notable agreements was the Statement of Intent on a Samurai Bond, signed between Kenya’s National Treasury and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance. This instrument will allow Kenya to raise funds in the Japanese capital markets, providing an alternative source of financing for national development priorities. In the health sector, the Ministry of Health entered into a collaboration with Japan’s Shionogi & Co. Ltd., supported by the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Foundation, to expand access to Cefiderocol, a life-saving antibiotic for bacterial pneumonia. Additionally, the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institution signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to advance human resource development and skills training.
Discussions on e-mobility also gained momentum, with Toyota Motor Corporation set to supply 5,000 electric vehicles to Kenya. President Ruto emphasized that the project would feature 30–40 percent local content in its assembly phase and ultimately lead to manufacturing within the country. This partnership is expected to play a central role in Kenya’s shift towards green industrialization and renewable energy technologies.
Growth in bilateral trade
Trade relations also featured prominently in the talks. While bilateral trade has grown significantly, with a 33 percent increase recorded in 2024, the balance remains heavily tilted in Japan’s favour. Japan exports goods worth around $1 billion annually to Kenya, whereas Kenya’s exports to Japan total only about $70 million. President Ruto urged Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to address tariff and non-tariff barriers that restrict Kenyan agricultural products such as avocados, tea, and flowers from accessing the Japanese market more competitively. At the same time, he held discussions with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation on enhancing youth training, de-risking startups, and creating better financing avenues for small businesses.
Beyond trade and investment, the TICAD forum also served as a platform for Kenya to articulate Africa’s broader peace and development agenda. Ruto highlighted the role of African regional blocs in peace-building, noting ongoing efforts by the East African Community and the Southern Africa Development Community in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and by IGAD in Sudan and Somalia. He reiterated the continent’s commitment to reforming the African Union Peace Fund to ensure it becomes more responsive and effective in addressing conflicts.
The Kenyan leader also underscored the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), pointing out that intra-African trade currently accounts for just 15 percent of the continent’s commerce compared to 60 percent in Europe and Asia. He projected that with reforms in agriculture, the establishment of an African credit rating system, and stronger private sector involvement, intra-African trade could rise to 50 percent by 2035. Such growth, he argued, would unlock new opportunities for jobs, wealth creation, and local enterprise development.
President Ruto also took the opportunity to thank Japan for its consistent development support over the past six decades. He cited investments exceeding $5 billion, which have funded transformative projects such as geothermal power generation at Olkaria, expansion of the Port of Mombasa, and infrastructure upgrades across the country. With the new agreements signed at TICAD 9, Kenya expressed readiness to elevate its partnership with Japan into a new phase centered on innovation, sustainable growth, and peace-building across Africa.