Italy-Africa Summit Marks President Ruto's 48th Foreign Visit

President William Ruto and Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisely Rotich during church service on January 14,2024. [Christopher Kipsang, Standard]

President William Ruto departed for Rome, Italy, on Sunday to participate in the Italy-Africa Summit, marking his 48th foreign trip since assuming office as President. The trip was announced in a statement by State House spokesperson Hussein Mohammed.

Ruto, in his capacity as the Chair of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change, will be attending the summit, where he is scheduled to deliver a keynote address. The event, themed "A Bridge for Common Growth," will bring together 20 heads of state to discuss crucial collaborative areas, including food security, culture, education, vocational training, energy security, economic and infrastructure development, and combating human trafficking and terrorism.

The departure was marked by a Sunday morning send-off ceremony, with top government officials led by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua bidding farewell to the Head of State.

During the summit, President Ruto is slated to discuss with Italian President Sergio Mattarella to enhance bilateral cooperation. Additionally, he is scheduled to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. This visit follows the Italian president's trip to Kenya ten months ago.

This trip to Italy is President Ruto's third foreign visit this year, having recently travelled to Uganda on the 18th of this month to attend the 42nd IGAD Extraordinary Summit and the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Kampala. Following the summit, he made a detour to Kinshasa, DRC, for the swearing-in ceremony of President Felix Tshisekedi.

President Ruto's frequent foreign travels have sparked public discussions, with this current trip marking his 48th in just 16 months in office, averaging three trips per month. Despite criticisms, the President defends his visits, asserting that they bring tangible benefits to Kenyans.

However, the president has pushed back the criticism previously stating that he is not a tourist and travels with a plan.

"As the chief agent and chief ambassador of our country, these foreign trips, that people are making noise about are crucial because we can look for opportunities for Kenyans. We are a great nation and going places. We shall do the right thing and Kenya shall prosper," he stated.

Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also ignored the criticism and encouraged the president to travel abroad and secure opportunities for the country.

"Continue going anywhere in the world, anywhere you will find many benefits for Kenyans," said Gachagua.

The president has on several occasions stated that he is looking for opportunities for the Kenyans not just within the country's borders but also abroad.

At the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection announced that the Saudi government had initiated plans to employ female health workers for roles as general nurses and healthcare assistant professionals. The positions would be offered under a two-year renewable contract.

In October 2023, President Ruto stated that Kenya would sign an agreement with Saudi Arabia that would potentially provide opportunities for around 350,000 Kenyans

Additionally, Ruto added that Kenya is on the verge of signing an agreement with the European Union Parliament. This agreement aims to open up markets for Kenyan farm produce in 27 EU countries.

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party Leader Raila Odinga has pointed fingers at the current administration, led by President Ruto, for the escalating cases of Kenyan immigration, attributing it to the prevailing economic conditions in the country.

Raila has blamed the Kenya Kwanza government for failing to establish administrative policies to secure domestic employment opportunities for Kenyans.

"Once upon a time, Kenyans were so proud and so confident of their nation that they refused to seek jobs abroad, including with the UN... Today, our people are scrambling to leave the country. A recent study by Pew Research showed that up to 54 per cent of Kenyans would wish to relocate from the country.," he remarked.

The Azimio Chief, emphasising his belief that the country is heading in the wrong direction, found it paradoxical for the government to boast about securing farming and domestic jobs for Kenyans abroad while neglecting to create better employment opportunities at home.

This was after the Ministry of Labor's announcement through Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime in December that Kenya would export approximately 1,500 Kenyans as casual workers to labour in Israel's agricultural fields on a three-year contract.

"Our children are struggling to get farm jobs in Israel, to be house helps in Saudi Arabia, and security personnel in Qatar. Government officers themselves, including a whole president, openly say that they are trying to get jobs abroad for Kenyans," he stated.

"Young people with the new skills and knowledge that we need are being exported because the government cannot create jobs. And the government sees it as an achievement."

However, the President also pushed back at the criticism arguing that his administration promised to get Kenyans jobs and that Kazi ni Kazi.

"I want to ask, when one goes to Israel and gets a salary of Ksh.100, 000, is there a problem there? There are people who do not understand how things are going on. I want to tell the leader of opposition (Raila Odinga) to stop complaining this early on; many people will still go abroad for jobs," said the President.

As the nation contends with a challenging economic environment marked by a surge in the cost of living, the focus now shifts to President Ruto's multibillion-shilling foreign excursions, with expectations high on whether they will pave the way for improved opportunities for the citizens.