President William Ruto is visiting Italy to deepen Kenya-Italy ties and attract investment. He will hold bilateral talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The visit aims to accelerate the Arror, Kimwarer, and Itare dam projects. Ruto plans to expand irrigation to 2.5 million acres within seven years.
Ruto linked higher fuel prices in Kenya to its classification as a middle-income country. Pump prices rose above Ksh206 per litre for petrol and diesel on April 14.
In contrast, petrol sells for about Ksh185–190 per litre in Uganda and averages around Ksh191 in Tanzania. Ruto emphasized the disparity between Kenya and its neighbors.
“It is important to clarify that Kenya is a middle-income country, while many of our neighbours are classified as least developed countries,” he said. “That creates a significant difference.”
Kenyans need to understand that the country maintains over 20,000 kilometres of tarmac roads and has another 6,000 kilometres under construction. The target is to construct an additional 28,000 kilometres of tarmac roads in the next seven years.
Yet, rising fuel costs may impact transportation options, including easy coach bus fares across the region. Observers note that these fares could increase as fuel prices remain high.
The visit is part of a broader plan to enhance cooperation between Kenya and Italy. Details remain unconfirmed regarding specific investment outcomes from this trip.
