Ruto: Kenya, Uganda to jointly invest in pipeline, SGR extensions
National
By
Irene Githinji
| Nov 24, 2025
President William Ruto has affirmed that bilateral relations between Kenya and Uganda are strong, emphasising Kenya’s readiness to work with all East African partner countries to drive regional transformation.
Speaking in Tororo, Uganda, during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Devki Tororo Steel project, worth around Sh64.6 billion ($500 million), Ruto assured that Kenya will collaborate with Uganda and other regional partners to foster prosperity and create a more competitive East Africa.
The ceremony was also attended by Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni.
He highlighted that Uganda has assured access to the sea through Kenya, saying the two countries will jointly extend and co-invest in the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) pipeline and the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
“I want to assure that we are going to work together. People in the journalist space try to create the impression that Uganda wants sea access by all means, but that is not the case,” Ruto said.
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He stressed that Kenya and Uganda are “brothers and sisters” and will not engage in negative rhetoric. “We have time for progress, not for negative talk. We want to create jobs, attract investments, connect the region and share prosperity because poverty cannot be shared,” he added.
Ruto commended Museveni for agreeing to collaborate on regional projects and said Kenyan ministers had provided guidance on joint ownership of KPC. He urged Ugandans and East Africans to invest in the facility, with shares made available to public entities and citizens to diversify regional ownership.
“The joint investment in the pipeline from Eldoret through Kampala to the DRC border and to Rwanda is at an advanced stage. Our governments have approval to co-invest so that it serves East Africa as a jointly owned facility,” Ruto said.
He reiterated that in January, they would launch the SGR extension from Naivasha to Malaba, Kampala, and onwards to DRC, as part of improving regional transport, logistics, and competitiveness.
“I am very confident of the progress we are making as a region. Uganda is the largest destination for our goods and services. Last year, we exported nearly Sh120 billion to Uganda, and our bilateral relations are solid,” Ruto noted.
He added that he would next week launch the dualling of the road from Rironi near Nairobi to Malaba to ease traffic congestion.
President Museveni lauded Ruto as a Pan-Africanist and said the Devki Tororo Steel project symbolises Africa’s industrial liberation. He emphasised that Africa has historically suffered from resource exploitation and underdevelopment.
“I have banned the export of unprocessed minerals. Let them stay in the ground for future generations,” he said.
He described the pipeline, road, and railway extensions to Uganda as crucial investments. “The future is bright; more investments will come,” Museveni added.
Ruto said the event marked the beginning of a bold new chapter in Africa’s industrialisation, reflecting visionary leadership, daring entrepreneurship, and enduring regional partnership.