President William Ruto has been awarded one of Kazakhstan’s highest state honours, the Order of Dostyk, First Degree, during his ongoing state visit to the Central Asian nation.
The decoration, also known as the Order of Friendship, is awarded by the President of Kazakhstan to both citizens and foreign nationals who have made outstanding contributions to strengthening peace, diplomacy, and friendship between nations. The First Degree is the highest tier of the honour.
“Deeply humbled and profoundly honoured to receive the Order of Dostyk (Friendship), First Degree, one of the highest distinctions by the Government of Kazakhstan,” Ruto said.
Receiving the decoration from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Ruto said the recognition reflects the deep bond between Kenya and Kazakhstan and pledged to continue strengthening the relationship for future generations.
“It reflects our shared commitment to peace, cooperation, and the enrichment of cultures across continents,” he said.
“As I wear this star and sash, I do so with reverence for the values they embody: unity, respect, and solidarity. I accept this honour on behalf of the people of Kenya, who stand with the people of Kazakhstan in the pursuit of harmony and prosperity,” he added.
Beyond the ceremony, the two heads of state reviewed the state of their bilateral relations and agreed on practical steps to unlock new opportunities across trade, investment, innovation, and regional connectivity. They signed a number of bilateral agreements covering ICT and e-government, agriculture, transport and infrastructure, finance, tourism, climate action, mining, and space technology.
Ruto made clear that Kenya sees Kazakhstan as more than just a diplomatic partner, describing it as an important gateway to Central Asia and the broader Eurasian region, while positioning Kenya as Kazakhstan’s entry point into East and Central Africa.
“Kenya views Kazakhstan as a vital strategic partner and an important gateway to Central Asia and the wider Eurasian region. In turn, Kenya stands ready to serve as Kazakhstan’s gateway to East and Central Africa, and has invited Kazakhstan to establish Nairobi as a strategic base for its operations on the continent, while utilising the Ports of Mombasa and Lamu as key logistics gateways to regional markets,” he said.
The Kazakhstan visit is part of a broader tour that also took Ruto to Azerbaijan, as he continues to market Kenya as a leading technology and innovation hub in Africa, highlighting the country’s young and skilled workforce and its growing opportunities in technology-enabled services.
