Kenya Attends TICAD 9 in Yokohama, Japan
President Ruto champions Africa’s development vision At TICAD 9
President William Ruto led Kenya’s delegation to the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan, from August 20 to 22, 2025.
The summit, themed “Co-creating Innovative Solutions with Africa,” brought together African Heads of State, the Government of Japan, the African Union Commission (AUC), international organizations, and private sector leaders to deepen dialogue and cooperation on Africa’s development priorities.
President Ruto who has continued to champion institutional reforms within the African Union (AU) and advocate for a unified African voice in global governance, played a central role in articulating Africa’s shared aspirations in areas such as climate action, infrastructure development, digital innovation, and industrial transformation He highlighted Kenya’s commitment to climate action, digital innovation, and industrial transformation, aligning with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development .
“TICAD is more than a partnership. It is a shared vision for transforming Africa’s potential into prosperity. We must now move from commitments to implementation, with a clear focus on infrastructure, renewable energy, and human capital,” said President Ruto during a high-level session.
The President underscored Kenya’s ambitious target to increase investment in renewable energy by 30% over the next five years, with projections to create over 20,000 green jobs, enhance industrial output, and strengthen climate resilience. With Kenya already producing over 75% of its energy from renewable sources well above the continental average, the country stands as a model for sustainable development.
Kenya’s strong legacy with TICAD, having hosted TICAD 6 in Nairobi in 2016, was a key reference point as the President held bilateral meetings with top Japanese corporations and agencies, including Toyota Tsusho, JICA, Marubeni Corporation, Fujita, Sumitomo, Nippon Foundation, and key global partners such as the IFC, Green Climate Fund (GCF), UNDP, and NEXI.
President William Ruto engaged with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to enhance Kenya’s climate action initiatives. The GCF, a multilateral institution supporting developing nations in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and bolstering climate resilience, emphasized the importance of focused project submissions.
In response, President Ruto proposed the establishment of a dedicated focal point within Kenya’s National Treasury to streamline coordination and expedite project implementation. The GCF also expressed interest in attaining observer status at the African Union and underscored the necessity of improving Africa’s risk perception. This includes supporting the creation of an African Credit Rating Agency and advocating for a unified continental policy to attract private sector investment. Further discussions are anticipated at the upcoming African Climate Summit in Addis Ababa.
Discussions with Sumitomo Group highlighted their growing investment in Kenya, particularly through the M-KOPA facility, which offers affordable mobile phones to low-income consumers. The company noted rising demand in both Kenya and Ethiopia and expressed interest in supplying construction machinery to institutions like the National Youth Service. The Kenyan government affirmed opportunities for expanded collaboration, emphasizing the need for swift decision-making to accelerate partnerships.
During the Summit, Kenya secured significant commitments including a $169 million Samurai loan from Japan to boost its vehicle assembly and energy sectors.
Kenya also confirmed its readiness to host the Ocean Summit in 2026, with the support of the Nippon Foundation. The summit aims to advance the sustainable use and conservation of marine resources, strengthen ocean governance, and promote blue economy innovations across Africa and Small Island Developing States.
President Ruto’s participation at TICAD 9 underscored Kenya’s unwavering commitment to multilateral cooperation and its positioning as a regional economic hub, a climate-resilient economy, and a trusted gateway to Africa. His diplomatic leadership continues to elevate Kenya’s voice in global affairs while unlocking strategic opportunities for national development.