Held talks with President Michael Randrianirina of Madagascar at the Iavoloha Palace in Antananarivo.
Our discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in the blue economy, trade and investment, agriculture, tourism and cultural exchange as we deepen the longstanding friendship between our two countries.
We agreed to ease trade barriers, promote investment and enhance connectivity to unlock greater economic opportunities for our people.
Together, we will turn our shared ambitions into opportunities that create jobs, grow business and uplift our people.
Joined the people of Madagascar for the country's 66th Independence Day celebrations at Barea Stadium in Antananarivo.
Kenya identifies with Madagascar's journey to independence. Our nations are united by a shared history of resistance to colonial rule and by the determination of our people to shape their own destiny.
That shared experience continues to define our commitment to sovereignty, unity, and the conviction that Africa's future will be built through partnership among its nations.
Today, we celebrate the resilience of its people and the steady progress they have made in building a stronger, more prosperous nation. This anniversary honours not only the hard won freedom of the past, but also the continued pursuit of progress, prosperity, and a better future for all.
We value our longstanding friendship with Madagascar and remain committed to deepening our partnership for the benefit of our people. Together, we will expand trade and investment, strengthen maritime cooperation, improve connectivity, and unlock the immense potential of the Indian Ocean as a gateway for commerce, innovation, and shared prosperity.
Inspected the ongoing works and chaired a meeting to address key bottlenecks and accelerate implementation, including ensuring adequate and reliable power infrastructure to support the conference facility.
Upon completion, the complex will strengthen Nairobi’s position as a leading conferencing and events destination in East and Central Africa, enhancing our capacity to host major regional and international gatherings.
Even more important, it will cater for current conferences preferences, elevating and growing our tourism numbers to more than 5 million visitors and generating more than KSh1 trillion by 2028.
Bro,the BILLIONAIRE you are;HIDING behind 'debts';forcing many months' UNPAID labour slaving to defend your STANDARD headlines 'BOLD' extortion GANGSTERISM driven by GREED;is HEARTLESS to loyal workers, INSULT to journalism and BETRAYAL to free media that STANDARD once belonged.
GMoi,your STANDARD media’s 5 days a week EXTORTIONIST propaganda HEADLINES on me & my administration’s transformative track record will get you NOTHING & NOWHERE.BLACKMAIL to yield to your GREED? NEVER.Kenya belongs to all Kenyans,not you alone.Jaribu 8 days a week. Do your WORST
Assented to the Finance Bill, 2026, and the Appropriation Bill, 2026, which provide the legal framework and resources required to finance our transformation priorities, create jobs, strengthen livelihoods and invest in the future.
The Finance Act, 2026, does not raise taxes. Instead, it improves fairness by strengthening compliance, closing loopholes and ensuring that every individual and business pays what is lawfully due.
We are pursuing tax avoidance, not taxpayers; offshore schemes, not ordinary wages; and leakages, not livelihoods.
Contrary to misinformation, there are no taxes on freehold land, no taxes on mitumba, no changes to rental income tax, no tax on bottled water, no new tax on M-PESA or mobile money transactions, no new tax on mobile airtime or data, and no new tax on locally manufactured packaging for essential products.
Our budget invests in people, productivity and prosperity. Education has received the highest allocation at KSh784 billion, up from KSh526 billion in 2022. Funding for health has increased from KSh132 billion to KSh175 billion. Agriculture has risen from KSh44 billion to KSh63 billion.
To cushion Kenyans against fluctuations in fuel prices, KSh21.5 billion has been set aside for fuel stabilisation, among other key interventions.
Also assented to the Supplementary Appropriation Act, 2026, at State House Nairobi.
Kenya and Japan have signed a new KSh22.1 billion financial facility to accelerate the growth of Kenya’s vehicle sector with the support of Japan’s Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI).
This milestone is a direct outcome of our State Visit to Japan in 2024 and our participation in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in 2025.
As we continue to diversify our sources of financing, we remain committed to building partnerships with nations that engage with us as equals, founded on mutual respect and shared prosperity.
At State House Nairobi, witnessed the signing of this landmark financial agreement between the Government of Kenya and NEXI, represented by CEO Atsuo Kuroda.
Kenya will harness Japan’s capital, technology, and decades of industrial excellence to expand our local vehicle manufacturing capacity, placing more Kenyan-made cars on our roads.
We are reforming the coffee sector to put more money in the pockets of our farmers. Through reforms that have strengthened cooperatives, improved market access and protected farmers' earnings, coffee prices have risen from between KSh30 and KSh70 to KSh120 to KSh160 a kilo over the past two years.
We are also ensuring that at least 80 per cent of every coffee sale goes directly to the farmer while payments will be made within five days of a sale.
To accelerate this progress, we are supporting farmers with subsidised fertiliser, quality seedlings, improved extension services and modern farming practices to increase productivity, lower production costs and expand acreage under coffee.
Additionally, we are moving away from export of raw coffee to local processing, packaging and branding so that more value is retained in Kenya, more jobs are created in the country and our farmers earn more from the crop they produce.
Presided over the launch of the National Coffee Revival Through Cooperative Societies Programme in Kianyaga, Kirinyaga County.