William Ruto To Fly To China Next Sunday To Sign KSh 40b Deal: "Mambo Ya Barabara"

• President William Ruto says the trip to China will be for the purpose of drawing development to Kenya
• He said he is going to negotiate multi-billion shilling deals to the benefit of the country, hinting that the visit will deliver futuristic road connectivity to Kenyans
• This would be Ruto's first trip overseas after months of being grounded in Kenya, dealing with a fervent youth-led revolt against his administration

Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

President William Ruto is set to leave the country next Sunday, September 1, to China.

Why Ruto is flying to China

He revealed while addressing residents of Siaya.

Ruto, while not delving more into the details of the trip, said he would be in the Asian country to sign multi-million shilling deals.

"Next Sunday, I will be leaving for China to sign KSh 40 billion roads programme," said Ruto.

This would be Ruto's first trip abroad after two months.

How Kenyan Gen Zs barred Ruto from travelling

The president was grounded in Kenya at the time as the restive Kenyans advanced a revolt against his administration.

A formerly often globe-trotting president, Ruto was compelled to stay home as the youth carried their bi-weekly protests to demand governance change and the striking of not-so-friendly government policies.

In July, the president skipped and rescheduled six trips abroad.

Trips Ruto counselled due to Gen Z protests

He missed the sixth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union (AU) in Accra, Ghana, forewent three trips within Africa, two trips to Europe, and one trip to the United States.

The president had become under the scrutiny of keen Kenyans after making 62 visits to 38 countries in his first 20 months in office.

But with the advent of the protests in June, the president was confined within the country.

He would however be seen in churches before retreating to privacy.

The youth's revolution achieved a host of results, including the president's resolve to decline to assent to the Finance Bill 2024, the firing of all the Cabinet secretaries, the implementation of austerity measures and the removal of a budget worth billions in the offices of the first and second ladies, and the office of the spouse of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.