President William Ruto has outlined an ambitious plan to grow jobs and unlock economic potential in East Africa through increased trade and major cross-border infrastructure projects.
Addressing Tanzania’s Parliament in Dodoma on Tuesday, Ruto said the region is sitting on massive untapped economic opportunities that can only be realised through deeper integration and investment.
He revealed that trade between Kenya and Tanzania reached about $860 million in 2025 and is expected to hit $1 billion, but insisted this is only a fraction of what is possible.
According to the President, expanding trade will require deliberate investment in infrastructure to connect markets and ease the movement of goods and people.
Among the key projects highlighted is the development of a major coastal road corridor linking Malindi, Lunga Lunga and Dar es Salaam, which he described as a strategic route for trade, tourism and regional movement.
He also pointed to plans to expand railway connectivity from Kenya through Tanzania into Burundi, a move expected to open up access to the wider Great Lakes region and strengthen East Africa’s position as a trade hub.
On energy, Ruto said ongoing and planned power interconnection projects between the two countries will stabilise electricity supply, reduce costs and support industrial growth.
“These are not just projects. They are investments in shared prosperity,” he said.
The President linked these developments directly to job creation, especially for young people across the region, noting that millions are entering the job market every year.
He argued that without expanding trade and building integrated economies, the region risks failing its youth.
“By growing our economies together, we are creating pathways to jobs, enterprise and dignity for our young people,” Ruto said.
Ruto also challenged leaders to move away from narrow national interests and instead embrace a partnership approach where the success of one country benefits the other.
His remarks signal a push to position East Africa as a competitive economic bloc within the African Continental Free Trade Area.
