President Ruto Opens Kenya’s First Embassy in Francophone Africa

Kenya has opened an embassy in Dakar, Senegal as part of President Ruto administration’s efforts to enhance diplomatic ties with other African states in order to unlock trade and investment opportunities for Kenyans.

The Kenyan chancery in Senegal, the first in Francophone Africa and will serve the region, was officially opened by President Ruto on Thursday.

Ruto, who is on a two-day official visit to Senegal, said the embassy will help ease services and be a link to the government of Senegal and the private sector.

Speaking during the official opening of the embassy, Ruto said Kenya is engaging other African governments to nurture mutually beneficial relations even as he assured Kenyan investors that the government would support them to access investment opportunities across the continent.

The president also announced plans to open an embassy in Rabat, Morocco, later in the year.

"We will continue to push the limits for our investors and businesspeople to access more markets in Africa," he said.

The president pointed out that Africa will account for 25 percent of the world population by 2050, a market Kenya must plan and strategize for. 

Ruto, who was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Singoei Arap Korir and Kenyan Ambassador to Senegal Purity Muhindi, later met Kenyans living in Senegal.