- President William Ruto travelled to Zimbabwe on Wednesday to attend the 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit in Harare
- Ruto is set to hand over the COMESA chairmanship to Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the summit on Thursday, October 22
- The trip came a day after Ruto led Kenya's 63rd Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret
President William Ruto departed for Zimbabwe Wednesday evening, October 21, to participate in the 25th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Heads of State and Government Summit.
Source: Twitter
He arrived at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare amid rainy conditions the same evening.
Ruto was received at the airport by Zimbabwe's Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi, representing the Zimbabwean government, alongside Kenya's Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Gertrude Nyausi Angote.
COMESA Chairmanship Handover
At the summit Thursday, October 22, Ruto is scheduled to transfer the COMESA chairmanship to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Zimbabwe, which has served as vice chair since the 24th Summit held in Nairobi last October, assumes the chair for the 2026-2027 term.
Ambassador Angote noted that Kenya looks forward to building on regional ties and advancing COMESA's objectives as the handover approaches.
The summit is held under the theme "One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA" and convenes at Zimbabwe's new Parliament building in Mount Hampden.
Zimbabwe anticipates more than 1,000 delegates, with discussions expected to cover trade facilitation, industrial development and investment. COMESA comprises 21 member states with a combined population of over 640 million people.
From Eldoret to Harare
Ruto's trip to Harare followed Kenya's 63rd Mashujaa Day celebrations on Tuesday, October 20, which he presided over at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
The event was notably co-hosted by Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet and Nandi counties, marking the first occasion three counties have shared the national celebration. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was also in attendance.
In his address, Ruto outlined four proposed measures: PAYE tax relief, a land stamp duty exemption, removal of import duty on mobile phones, and 50,000 internships. He noted it was his fifth Mashujaa Day address as president and said he would later that day launch Achieng' Oneko's autobiography, "The Price of Freedom."
The president also used the occasion to challenge political opponents, urging leaders to engage on ideas and development plans rather than resort to ethnic politics and personal attacks.
He pledged to complete the Kipchoge Keino Stadium canopy within the coming months and recognised athletes including Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet, Peres Jepchirchir, Faith Cherotich and Lilian Odira.
The celebrations unfolded against a backdrop of public discontent, with activists and motorists staging protests over rising fuel prices and the high cost of living. Ruto acknowledged the frustrations Kenyans face around the cost of living, taxation and unemployment.
Source: TUKO.co.ke