Kenya and Burundi have renewed their pledge to strengthen ties by boosting trade, investment, and economic collaboration, as regional leaders gather in Nairobi for the ongoing COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government.
Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade, and Industry Lee Kinyanjui revealed that he had held bilateral discussions with Burundi’s Minister for Mineral Resources, Energy, Industry, Trade and Tourism, Hassan Kibeya, on the sidelines of the summit.
The meeting, he said, focused on exploring new opportunities to expand business relations and deepen cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
“This afternoon, on the sidelines of the COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government, I held bilateral talks with Dr Hassan Kibeya, Burundi’s Minister for Mineral Resources, Energy, Industry, Trade & Tourism,” Kinyanjui wrote on X.
“Our two countries enjoy longstanding relations, anchored by the free movement of people. We explored ways to deepen this partnership by enhancing trade, expanding investment opportunities, and strengthening economic ties for mutual growth.”
The renewed talks come at a time when President William Ruto is rallying African nations to embrace digital innovation as the next frontier for economic transformation.
On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, President Ruto hosted a high-level dinner at State House, Nairobi, to mark the 30th anniversary of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The event brought together heads of state and top government officials from across the continent to celebrate three decades of regional integration and shared progress.
During the celebrations, Ruto praised COMESA’s role in fostering economic unity, expanding trade, and opening new markets for African countries.
He described the bloc’s journey as a model of resilience and collaboration that continues to drive Africa’s development.
“We celebrate 30 years of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), a transformative regional bloc that has powered integration across our region. We take pride in our journey of resilience and partnership, which has expanded markets, created opportunities, and strengthened our unity in confronting challenges,” Ruto stated.
The president also underscored the importance of embracing technology to propel the continent’s next stage of growth. He said digital transformation will be central to Africa’s economic future, enabling countries to increase trade efficiency, create more jobs, and improve governance.
“At the 24th COMESA Summit of Heads of State, we will deliberate on the need to drive change to shape the next phase of Africa’s transformation through digital technology,” he wrote on X.
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