State visit · 4 May 2026
Your Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Honourable Ministers and Cabinet Secretaries, Ambassadors and High Commissioners, Ladies and Gentlemen, Habari za mchana.
I extend my deepest gratitude to Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan and to the people of the United Republic of Tanzania for the exceptionally warm and gracious hospitality extended to me and my delegation since our arrival.
This visit reflects the deep-rooted and enduring friendship that binds our two nations, a relationship that transcends political ties and is enriched by vibrant people-to-people connections, shared heritage, and a common destiny.
President Samia and I have held productive and candid bilateral discussions during which we undertook a comprehensive review of our relations and reaffirmed our shared resolve to strengthen our strategic partnership for the benefit of our peoples.
The United Republic of Tanzania has been, and continues to be, a vital partner of Kenya. Our relationship is grounded in a shared history shaped by our founding fathers, who championed panAfricanism and envisioned a continent that is politically united, economically integrated, and self-reliant.
Guided by this vision, they laid the foundation for the East African Community as a vehicle for regional integration, an idea that was bold and ahead of its time.
Despite challenges along the way, our bilateral relations have remained resilient, vibrant, and wide-ranging, anchored in our shared commitment to sustainable development and shared prosperity.
We noted the progress made under the Joint Commission for Cooperation, which has held four sessions since its establishment in 2009 and continues to serve as a vital framework for collaboration in trade, agriculture, education, and other key sectors. We look forward to the Fifth Session later this year.
To further strengthen our cooperation, we have signed eight key instruments covering energy, legal cooperation, agriculture, railway development, public service capacity building, maritime cooperation, certification standards for seafarers, and harmonisation of standards. Ladies and Gentlemen,
We especially welcome the continued growth in bilateral trade, which reached 860.3 million dollars in 2025, reflecting expanding opportunities and strong economic complementarities between our two nations.
We also discussed the need to unlock the full potential of our trade by addressing remaining challenges in market access. In this regard, we reaffirmed our commitment to eliminate all outstanding non-tariff barriers by 30th June, 2026, as directed by the 25th East African Community Summit.
We value the business forum held alongside this visit, which provided an important platform for the private sector to share practical insights on strengthening trade, investment, and economic cooperation.
On tourism, we underscored its importance as a key driver of growth, foreign exchange earnings, and employment. We agreed to accelerate efforts to unlock its full potential and deepen people-to-people connections.
In the energy sector, we reaffirmed the critical role of reliable, affordable, and clean energy in driving industrialisation, improving livelihoods, and strengthening regional competitiveness, and committed to deepen cooperation in this field.
We commend the progress made on the Malindi-Bagamoyo Super Highway, which will significantly enhance regional connectivity, facilitate trade, and strengthen ties between our peoples.
We also reaffirmed our commitment to revive the Voi-MwatateTaveta railway line, recognising its strategic importance in reducing transport costs, increasing trade volumes, and improving economic competitiveness.
On boundary reaffirmation, we commend the progress made, with 564km of the 778km boundary already completed, and commit to finalising the remaining work ahead of the African Union deadline of 2027.
We also reviewed regional security challenges and reaffirmed our commitment to enhanced cooperation to ensure that our shared borders remain zones of peace, stability, and opportunity.
As founding members of the East African Community, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to advancing regional integration and working together to realise the full promise of the Community.
We noted that, as global supply chains continue to shift, our region is well positioned to emerge as a competitive hub for production and investment. To realise this potential, we must deepen regional integration and pursue coordinated strategies that enhance our collective competitiveness.
On international cooperation, we reaffirmed our commitment to a rules-based multilateral system and to the principles of international law. We recognise that global challenges, from climate change to health crises, require collective action and strengthened international cooperation.
As I conclude, I once again thank my sister, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, for the gracious invitation and for the warm reception extended to us.
I am confident that the discussions we have held will translate into tangible outcomes for our peoples, and I urge our respective teams to move with speed and urgency in implementing our shared commitments. Asanteni sana. ###