President William Ruto on Tuesday, May 5 received a standing ovation from Tanzanian lawmakers after his historic speech in Parliament in Dodoma.
Immediately after President Ruto finished his speech that agitated for deeper regional integration in East Africa, the Tanzanian Members of Parliament (MPs) rose in unison, clappped in agreement and cheered in admiration for a minute.
Ruto, currently in a state visit to Tanzania, was invited to address the House in a rare diplomatic honour that signaled warming ties between the two neighbouring countries.
In his speech, President Ruto urged the East African Community partner states to embrace shared infrastructure, joint investments, and institutional reforms to unlock the region’s economic potential.
Ruto said East Africa’s future lies in cooperation rather than competition, emphasising that major cross-border infrastructure projects will reshape trade, energy access, and regional connectivity.
“The development of the road corridor from Malindi through Lunga Lunga to Dar es Salaam is not merely a transport upgrade; it is a strategic artery of commerce, tourism, and people-to-people exchange along our Indian Ocean coastline,” Ruto said.
He noted that plans to expand railway connectivity from Voi through Singida and onward to Burundi would open up hinterland markets and strengthen trade links with the Great Lakes region.
“The planned expansion of railway connectivity, represents a transformative step towards linking our hinterland markets, unlocking trade routes into the Great Lakes region, and positioning East Africa as a gateway between the Indian Ocean and the heart of the continent,” he stated.
On energy cooperation, President Ruto praised the 400kV Kenya-Tanzania Power Interconnector for improving electricity reliability and enabling cross-border power trade.
He added that the proposed Shinyanga-Mabuki-Kilgoris-Rongai Interconnector would further integrate regional energy systems by harnessing diverse sources, including Tanzania’s gas and Kenya’s geothermal and wind power.
Ruto also welcomed Uganda’s decision to acquire a stake in the Kenya Pipeline Company, describing it as a model for regional ownership of strategic assets.
“What matters is not whether the asset is on one side of the border or the other. What matters is whether it strengthens our shared prosperity,” he said, while reaffirming Kenya’s readiness to invest in the proposed oil refinery in Tanga.
The President further called for swift implementation of reforms adopted during the 25th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community, including eliminating non-tariff barriers by June 30, 2026.
“These are not minor administrative adjustments. They are structural reforms designed to ensure that the East African Community is not only aspirational, but functional and capable of delivering tangible outcomes for the East African people,” Ruto said.
