NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto on Thursday held a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, focusing on strengthening bilateral ties, expanding energy cooperation, and addressing regional peace and security challenges.
In a statement, President Ruto said the two leaders reaffirmed the “strong and enduring cordial relations” between Kenya and Germany, pledging to deepen collaboration across multiple sectors.
Ruto expressed appreciation to the German government for its continued support of Kenya’s energy transition agenda through a €45 million (Sh6.6 billion) facility aimed at expanding clean and sustainable power generation.
“I thanked the German Government for supporting the expansion of our energy generation efforts with a €45 million facility,” Ruto said. “This partnership advances our goal of achieving universal access to affordable, reliable, and green energy.”
The President also highlighted progress in the bilateral labour agreement signed between the two countries earlier this year, which facilitates Kenyan professionals to secure employment opportunities in Germany.
“The implementation of our labour agreement is critical to providing more Kenyans access to decent work abroad, while enhancing skills transfer that benefits both nations,” Ruto noted.
During the call, the two leaders reviewed preparations for the upcoming EU–Africa Summit in Luanda, Angola, viewing it as a timely platform to enhance trade and investment relations between Africa and Europe.
“We underscored the growing trade and investment ties between Africa and Europe, and agreed that the upcoming EU–Africa Summit will be a befitting platform to strengthen this relationship,” Ruto added.
On matters of peace and security, both leaders discussed the ongoing conflicts in Somalia, Sudan, and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), agreeing on the urgency of restoring stability in the region.
Ruto emphasized Kenya’s commitment to regional peace efforts and urged Germany to continue supporting multilateral initiatives that promote dialogue and reconstruction.
Chancellor Merz, who assumed office earlier this year, reaffirmed Germany’s readiness to work closely with Kenya in advancing mutual interests in renewable energy, skills development, and peacebuilding across the Horn of Africa.
