Preparations to elect his successor are underway in Kenya. It is expected that the next leader will be announced following presidential polls due on 9th August 2022.

On Thursday 28th July 2022, President Kagame and Uhuru Kenyatta attended in the 2nd Special Summit of the African Peer Review Forum of Heads of State and Government.

The virtual summit was chaired by the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio.

As he delivered remarks, Kagame commended Kenya for completing the peer review process, noting that it demonstrates its relevance (APRM) as a toll to support each other to improve governance and economic opportunity on the continent.

The head of State stated that the reports analysis of the vibrancy, potential of Kenya’s pharmaceutical industry is particularly interesting ‘given the African Union’s growing focus on pandemic resilience and domestic health financing’ and applauded his counterpart of Kenya whose mandate draws to the end.

“Let me also take this opportunity and moment to congratulate President Uhuru Kenyatta as he concludes his mandate. Dear brother, thank you for your distinguished service, not only to Kenya but also to East Africa and Africa as a whole. We look forward to many more years of fruitful collaboration,” he said.

During the leadership of Kenyatta, Rwanda and Kenya maintained collaboration in different areas.

Kenyatta also played a role in the mediation of Rwanda and Uganda where he visited both countries on the same day on 11th March 2019.

At the time, President welcomed President Uhuru Kenyatta to the RDF Combat Training Centre in Gabiro on the sidelines of the 16th annual National Leadership Retreat (Umwiherero).

Rwanda and Kenya enjoy cooperation in the areas of justice, trade, agriculture, education, technology and telecommunication as well as security among others.
Before the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic, 30% of Rwanda’s imports were transited through Kenya.

The two leaders held a tête a tête meeting, before President Kenyatta passed by to greet participants at the Umwiherero.

In his message to the retreat participants, President Kenyatta commended existing relations between Rwanda and Kenya and expressed commitment to make the relations even more stronger.

“Let me say that the relationship between our two countries is probably one of the best relations that we have, as Kenya. The things that we have been able to do together, in terms of easing movement of our people, in terms of the linkages and what we did especially in the ICT sector, telecommunications sector.

We have many Kenyans living and working here in Rwanda and feeling very much at home. We have many Rwandans living and working in Kenya, really showing that we are brothers and sisters, bound at the hip. And ours as leaders is to continue to see how we can deepen that integration," President Kenyatta said.

He further hailed Rwanda’s progress, 25 years after the Genocide against the Tutsi which he said could be replicated elsewhere.

“We are very proud of the manner in which Rwanda has turned around, from a country that was heavily, heavily hit, especially during the Genocide period, a country that was on its knees, to one of the brightest stars on the African continent in a very short space of time.

Really showing clear direction and clarity from the top, all the way to all of you who have been part and parcel of making this Rwandan dream a reality. Lives have changed, the progress you have made in healthcare, the progress you have made in ICT, look at Kigali today... I keep telling my brother here, that I am fighting very hard to overtake him in terms of ease of doing business, and he keeps telling me: ‘Do your best’,” Kenyatta added.

Rwanda and Kenya enjoy cooperation in the areas of justice, trade, agriculture, education, technology and telecommunication as well as security among others.

Before the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic, 30% of Rwanda’s imports were transited through Kenya.

President Kagame with Kenyatta in Gabiro.

President Kagame has congratulated Kenyatta who is concluding his second-term.

President Kenyatta addressed participants of Umwiherero in 2016.