President William Ruto has commenced a two-day State Visit to South Africa, aiming to deepen the existing strategic partnership between the two nations.

• The visit focuses on expanding trade, investment, and strengthening people-to-people connections, building on over 30 years of close ties.
• Key figures involved include President William Ruto and leaders of South Africa.
• Ruto highlighted South Africa's manufacturing sector as a model for Africa's industrial potential and acknowledged the significant contribution of South African companies invested in Kenya.

President William Ruto of Kenya has arrived at Waterkloof Air Force Base for a three-day State Visit to South Africa, aiming to bolster diplomatic and economic ties.

• The visit is hosted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and will see official talks, agreement signings, and a business forum.
• Key areas of focus include trade, investment, regional integration, and peace and security.
• Both Kenya and South Africa have maintained diplomatic relations since 1994 and are seen as strategic partners in the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

President William Ruto recently traveled to South Africa aboard a privately chartered Boeing 737-800, highlighting Kenya's ongoing reliance on leased aircraft as its official presidential jet remains grounded.

• The Kenya Air Force's Fokker 70 presidential jet has been in the Netherlands since August 2025 and is nearing the end of its operational lifespan.
• President Ruto has previously faced scrutiny for using chartered aircraft for foreign trips, including a flight to the United States.
• The government has not yet announced plans for replacing or repairing the ageing presidential fleet, leaving the future of official air travel uncertain.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasized the strong, complementary relationship between Kenya and South Africa, dismissing any notions of rivalry during a joint press briefing with President William Ruto in Pretoria.

• Both leaders highlighted the deepening of cooperation across various sectors, signing six memorandums of understanding covering trade, investment, shipping, sports, culture, and education.
• President Ramaphosa addressed claims of xenophobia, stating that South Africans are not xenophobic and that migration challenges should be tackled collaboratively.
• President Ruto detailed Kenya's precautionary measures against the Ebola outbreak and defended the decision to allow the United States to establish a treatment facility within the country.