At the Russia‑Kenya Business Roundtable in Moscow on 28 October, President William Ruto said Kenya wants to reshape its trade ties with Russia by encouraging local manufacturing, value‑addition and joint investment rather than relying on imported finished goods.

Ruto highlighted the current trade imbalance, noting Kenya exported Ksh6.76 billion ($52 million) to Russia in 2025 while importing Ksh42.88 billion ($330 million), bringing total bilateral trade to about Ksh49.38 billion ($380 million).

Kenya’s exports consist mainly of tea, coffee, flowers and fresh produce, whereas imports are dominated by wheat, fertilisers, iron and steel products.

The president argued that exporting raw materials and importing manufactured goods leaves industrial activity, jobs and economic value outside Kenya, and called for partnerships that support local processing of agricultural output, manufacturing and mineral development.

Ruto invited Russian companies to establish factories and production facilities in Kenya, offering Russian capital and technical expertise alongside Kenyan resources and labour.

He identified priority sectors for deeper cooperation, including energy, mining, fertiliser production, transport, engineering, manufacturing and agro‑processing.

The president also referenced Kenya’s plan to mobilise Ksh5.197 trillion ($40 billion) for infrastructure over the next decade, with private‑sector opportunities through the National Infrastructure Fund.

Ruto positioned Kenya as a gateway to regional markets, urging Russian investors to use the country as a platform to serve Africa via the African Continental Free Trade Area.

He said the success of any partnership will be measured by projects built, industries created and jobs generated, rather than the number of agreements signed.

Ruto’s remarks align with his broader push for manufacturing, exemplified by the recent launch of Devki Group’s Ksh70 billion cement plant in Kitui and a planned steel plant in Taita Taveta within weeks.