Kenya’s President William Ruto has traveled to Washington, D.C., following an invitation from U.S. President Donald J. Trump to witness the signing of a landmark peace agreement in the Great Lakes region.
The deal brings together leaders from Kenya, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and aims to end decades of conflict in Eastern DRC. The region has long suffered from militia activity, cross-border tensions, and failed peace efforts, including previous Nairobi and Luanda talks.
By holding the signing in Washington, mediators hope to use international pressure to ensure compliance. The agreement is expected to support the disarmament of armed groups, improve humanitarian access, and promote long-term stability.
Ruto has positioned Kenya as a key regional mediator, describing the country as an anchor state with both a moral and strategic role in stabilizing East Africa. State House officials say the Washington event unites all major parties and opens pathways for sustainable peace.
Beyond the peace pact, Ruto will hold bilateral talks with U.S. officials on trade, investment, security, and health. A central focus is the Kenya–U.S. Health Cooperation Framework, which aims to shift from donor-led aid to a government-led partnership supporting Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and a self-reliant health system by 2030.
Ruto is also expected to present Kenya’s economic transformation blueprint, including plans for human capital development, agro-industrial expansion, infrastructure growth, large-scale irrigation projects, and dam construction. He will promote Public–Private Partnership (PPP) opportunities to U.S. investors, particularly in energy, agriculture, and infrastructure, positioning Kenya as a hub for regional industry and innovation.
This visit marks one of Ruto’s most significant diplomatic engagements of the year, reinforcing Kenya’s growing role as a peace broker and a regional economic leader.
