President William Ruto on Thursday, November 12, 2026, hosted the European Union Delegation to African Countries at State House, Nairobi, in a high-level engagement aimed at strengthening Kenya-Europe relations and deepening cooperation across the African continent.

The meeting comes as Kenya and the European Union celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations, providing an opportunity to review existing partnerships and explore new areas of economic and strategic cooperation.

Addressing the delegation, President Ruto called on European countries to increase investments in Kenya, particularly in manufacturing, agriculture, energy, infrastructure and healthcare. He emphasised that partnerships should deliver tangible benefits through job creation, technology transfer and the expansion of local industries.

“Our relationship is measured not by the meetings we hold or agreements we sign, but by the opportunities we create, the investments we mobilise, and the improvement we make in the lives of our people,” he said.

The President also highlighted the European Union's significance as Kenya's largest export market, accounting for approximately 21% of the country's global exports.

"We are committed to translating the Economic Partnership Agreement into greater trade and investment opportunities while addressing barriers facing our exporters, particularly smallholder producers."

He welcome Nairobi's designation as the EU's fourth regional hub in Africa, describing it as an opportunity to strengthen diplomatic engagement and economic cooperation across the continent.

Ruto further reaffirmed Kenya's commitment to democratic governance, welcoming consultations on an EU election observer mission ahead of the August 2027 General Election.

The engagement underscores Kenya's growing diplomatic influence and the importance of stronger Africa-Europe partnerships in advancing trade, investment, peace, security and sustainable development.