The two African economic giants, South Africa and Kenya, have pledged to work together to accelerate the continent’s trade, investment, and economic cooperation. This agreement stems from the mutual desire of both countries to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) platform to drive economic growth, industrialisation, and job creation.
This historic commitment was reaffirmed during Kenyan President William Ruto’s official State Visit to South Africa, where he and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa held bilateral talks and unveiled an ambitious agenda aimed at deeply strengthening the economic integration between East and Southern Africa.
Speaking at the Union Buildings in Pretoria following the discussions, Ramaphosa described Kenya as one of South Africa’s most important strategic partners on the continent and highlighted the growing significance of economic cooperation between the two nations, stating that their economic partnership is one of the most strategic pillars of their bilateral cooperation.
He noted that Kenya remains South Africa’s largest trading partner in East Africa and a key destination for South African investment, with local companies actively participating in sectors ranging from financial services and retail to information technology (ICT), manufacturing, infrastructure, and pharmaceuticals. South Africa’s development finance institutions and private sector investors are steadily increasing their presence in Kenya, with nearly 100 foreign direct investment projects worth more than R33 billion currently established, which have successfully created around 7,600 jobs for Kenyan citizens.
President Ramaphosa emphasized that the AfCFTA presents a magnificent opportunity to unlock greater trade flows and industrial development across the continent, and both leaders agreed that the agreement must serve as a catalyst for inclusive growth, supporting African manufacturing and creating greater opportunities for young people, women, and entrepreneurs.
On the other hand, Kenyan President William Ruto revealed that bilateral trade between Kenya and South Africa grew from $590 million in 2024 to $650 million in 2025, representing an impressive increase of $60 million or more than 10 percent in a single year.
While welcoming this encouraging growth, Ruto stated that both governments are deeply determined to further accelerate the pace of economic integration, acknowledging that real obstacles still remain, including tariff and non-tariff barriers, limited market access, and regulatory constraints. To address these challenges, Ramaphosa and Ruto directed their respective trade ministers to urgently implement the recommendations from the South Africa-Kenya Joint Trade Committee and remove the barriers that continue to hinder commerce between the two economies.
This strengthening of economic ties comes at a time when global trade patterns are being reshaped by geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and growing protectionism. President Ruto stated that African countries must respond to these global pressures by deepening cooperation and taking greater ownership of their economic future, while also praising South Africa’s leadership of the G20 for placing African development priorities and the interests of the Global South at the center of international discussions. Beyond trade and investment, the two countries signed six new agreements covering trade facilitation and standards, shipping and maritime cooperation, technical and vocational education (TVET), sports, arts and culture, and women’s empowerment.
According to Economic expert, business mobility and tourism were highlighted as vital drivers of economic growth, with Ruto welcoming the 90-day visa-free regime introduced in 2023, which boosted arrivals from Kenya to South Africa by 18.7% and saw more than 58,000 Kenyan visitors travel to South Africa in 2025 alone.
For both governments, this deeper partnership is about much more than bilateral trade, as it is envisioned as a leading model for broader continental integration under the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
