Ruto Travels to Washington for Peace Accord and High-Level Talks with Trump

President William Ruto departed Nairobi on December 2, 2025, en route to Washington, DC. The visit coincides with a major regional peace-building event: the signing of a peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda — a milestone intended to bring long-term stability to Eastern DRC. 

President Ruto is traveling to Washington at the invitation of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, reads a statement from State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed,

In addition to witnessing the peace agreement signing alongside DRC leader Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan leader Paul Kagame, Ruto is slated to engage in a series of strategic talks with U.S. officials. According to the statement from State House, the agenda includes discussions on trade, investment, health cooperation, and security — reflecting Kenya’s broader ambition to deepen economic and diplomatic ties with the United States. 

A key component of the visit is the planned signing of a Kenya–U.S. Health Cooperation Framework. The framework seeks to renew and expand bilateral health collaboration, targeting long-term goals like Universal Health Coverage and building a self-reliant health system by 2030. Experts see this as a pivotal step in Kenya’s “economic transformation agenda,” which also emphasizes infrastructure expansion, human capital development, and agro-industrial growth. 

Economic diplomacy remains a major focus. Ruto is expected to make Kenya an attractive destination for public–private partnership investments across key sectors, including energy, agriculture, and infrastructure. The Kenyan leadership hopes these engagements will catalyze growth, create jobs, and diversify the economy. 

Beyond diplomacy and economics, the visit carries significant symbolic weight. Ruto’s presence in Washington signals Kenya’s growing importance as a strategic partner for the U.S. in East Africa. Observers note that his trip comes at a time when regional stability, trade diversification, and global health cooperation are high on both nations’ agendas. 

As the world watches, the outcomes of Ruto’s Washington trip may reshape relationships not only between Kenya and the U.S., but also across the wider East and Central African region. The success of the DRC–Rwanda peace agreement, along with enhanced bilateral cooperation, could mark a significant turning point in regional diplomacy and development.