President William Ruto left for Doha, Qatar, on Monday to attend the Second World Summit for Social Development 2025, scheduled for November 4–6, 2025.
His trip will strengthen economic partnerships, attract investment, and participate in the UN Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2), which will focus on poverty reduction, decent work, and social inclusion, State House said.
While in Qatar, Ruto will conclude key investment agreements to modernise Kenya’s infrastructure and advance flagship energy and transport projects. He will hold talks with several world leaders, including His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, and strategic development initiatives.
Building on these engagements, the President will advance expanded Qatari investment and strategic partnerships in agriculture, particularly food security and climate-smart farming, as well as in renewable energy, green hydrogen, health, tourism, transport, and logistics.
He will also engage Qatari business leaders to broaden public-private partnerships.
To expand youth employment and strengthen diaspora contribution, the President will pursue the expansion of the Kenya-Qatari Bilateral Labour Agreement to include more professional and technical roles, and enhance skills-training aligned with Qatar’s labour market needs.
This will create new pathways for young Kenyans and support those already working in Qatar as they continue contributing to both economies.
At the summit, Ruto will deliver statements on behalf of Kenya and the Africa Group,
calling for fair global financial systems, universal access to essential services, strengthened multilateral cooperation, and reforms that enhance African representation at global organisations and advance shared prosperity.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi was the first to arrive for the summit.
Ruto is expected to deliver a statement in his national capacity and later address the Summit on behalf of the African Group.
The Summit will review global progress made towards key social development goals, including poverty eradication, inclusive economic growth, reducing inequality, and strengthening international cooperation.
This year’s meeting comes 30 years after the inaugural Summit held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1995, where world leaders adopted the landmark Copenhagen Commitments on Social Development—a framework that continues to guide global efforts in promoting social justice and equitable growth.
Kenya is participating in the negotiations with a focus on upholding the Copenhagen Declaration and reaffirming the right to development, especially in balancing interests between developed and developing nations.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
