President William Ruto has held talks with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, focusing on strengthening Kenya–European Union relations through expanded trade, digital cooperation, and global governance reforms. 
By Fredrick Kioko,
President William Ruto has held talks with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, focusing on strengthening Kenya–European Union relations through expanded trade, digital cooperation, and global governance reforms.
The discussions reaffirmed the European Parliament’s role as a key partner in advancing cooperation between Kenya, Africa, and the European Union, with both leaders highlighting ongoing progress under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
A major focus of the meeting was the EU–Kenya Digital Partnership, particularly the advancement of the Digital Dialogue and Data Adequacy process. The two sides noted that the initiative is expected to boost digital trade, attract foreign investment, and reinforce Kenya’s ambition to position itself as a leading digital hub in Africa.
President Ruto also called for accelerated implementation of the Cross-Border Trade in Services framework, saying it would unlock new opportunities for businesses in both Kenya and Europe. He emphasized Kenya’s youthful, highly educated, and tech-savvy workforce as a key driver of future economic growth under enhanced cooperation.
Beyond trade and investment, the leaders also discussed broader global reforms. President Ruto urged reforms to the international financial architecture to improve access to affordable financing for developing economies, while also calling for changes to global governance institutions, including the United Nations Security Council, to make them more inclusive, equitable, and representative of today’s world order.
The talks come at a time when Kenya is seeking to deepen its strategic partnership with the European Union, with a strong focus on digital transformation, trade diversification, and multilateral reform.
