President William Ruto has praised Kazakhstan’s rapid economic transformation, describing it as a model that could help shape Kenya’s own development strategy.
Speaking after his inaugural State Visit to the Central Asian nation, Ruto said the trip offered valuable lessons on industrialisation, governance, and long-term planning.
“Our inaugural State Visit to Kazakhstan has deepened our appreciation of the remarkable progress the nation has achieved since attaining independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991,” Ruto said.
In a statement, the President noted that Kazakhstan’s progress demonstrates the impact of “visionary leadership, resilience, and strategic economic planning.”
He said the country has evolved into a modern and influential state in Central Asia, positioning itself as a key economic and political player.
“Kazakhstan’s transformation into a modern, dynamic, and influential State in Central Asia stands as a testament to visionary leadership, resilience, and strategic economic planning,” he added.
Ruto emphasised that Kenya stands to benefit from studying Kazakhstan’s development path, particularly as Nairobi pushes forward with its economic growth and industrialisation agenda.
The government has in recent years prioritised manufacturing, infrastructure development, and foreign investment as part of its broader economic reforms.
“The lessons drawn from the country’s development journey will greatly inform and enrich Kenya’s own economic growth and industrialisation agenda,” Ruto said.
As part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, the President announced that Kenya will soon establish an Office of the Consul-General in Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital.
The move is expected to enhance diplomatic engagement, trade cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
“To further strengthen the longstanding friendship and expand diplomatic engagement between Kenya and Kazakhstan, Kenya will soon establish an Office of the Consul-General in Astana,” he stated.
Kenya and Kazakhstan have maintained cordial relations over the years, but the new diplomatic presence signals a shift toward deeper engagement, particularly in areas such as energy, agriculture, and technology.
Ruto also expressed appreciation to Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for hosting the Kenyan delegation, noting that the visit had strengthened ties between the two nations.
“We extend our sincere gratitude to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for the warm hospitality accorded to us throughout the visit. We also look forward to welcoming him to Kenya in the near future on a reciprocal State Visit,” he said.