President William Ruto has arrived in Yokohama City, Japan, ahead of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), which begins Wednesday, August 20, 2025.
The Head of State touched down Tuesday night and was received by senior Japanese government officials.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who arrived in Japan earlier, was also present to welcome him.
President Ruto will join other African heads of state and government for the three-day high-level summit.
It will focus on strengthening Africa-Japan relations and driving sustainable development across the continent.
“This visit is about advancing Kenya’s position as the gateway to our region and the entire African continent,” said Ruto.
“Kenya offers vast opportunities for investment in infrastructure development, special economic zones, agriculture, energy, ICT, digitization, and more.”
While in Japan, President Ruto will also hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit, including talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
He will be formally received at the Imperial Palace by Their Majesties Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.
According to State House, these engagements will focus on “deepening the Kenya–Japan partnership and exploring new avenues for trade, investment, and international cooperation.”
The summit, which runs from August 20 to 22, is being held in Yokohama, a city located south of Tokyo that previously hosted TICAD in 2008, 2013, and 2019.
Notably, this year marks the first time the TICAD host city was selected through a public competition.
TICAD is Japan’s premier diplomatic platform for advancing development in Africa, bringing together African leaders, global partners, and multilateral institutions.
First launched in 1993, the summit is held every three years and co-hosted by Japan, the African Union, the United Nations, UNDP, and the World Bank.
The 2025 conference is themed “People, Planet and Prosperity in a Changing World: Co-creating Innovative Solutions with Africa.”
It will spotlight key issues such as climate action, youth participation, digital innovation, economic transformation, and human security.
