Ruto: Tanzania, Kenya border is a lifeline of cooperation

DODOMA: PRESIDENT William Ruto has insisted on cementing the cooperation between Kenya and Tanzania as the two neighbours share a unique relationship strengthened by geography, culture, and cross-border social interactions.

Speaking during his address to Members of Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania in Dodoma on May 5, 2026, Ruto said the two countries share an approximately 800-kilometre border stretching from the Indian Ocean at Lunga Lunga and Horohoro, passing Mount Kilimanjaro, across the Maasai Mara and Serengeti reserves, and extending to Lake Victoria. He emphasized that the border is not merely a line on a map, but a vital link for trade, culture, and human interaction.

Ruto further noted that the two nations are united by the Kiswahili language, which is spoken by over 100 million people across East Africa, describing it as a key instrument for cross-border cohesion.

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He added that several communities, including the Maasai and Kuria, live across both countries, with many families connected through cross-border marriages. He also pointed out that traders move between the two countries daily, while entrepreneurs depend on the smooth flow of goods and services.

In addition, President Ruto said his delegation includes leaders from Narok and Kajiado who have family ties in Tanzania, illustrating the depth of the social connections between the two nations.

He concluded by noting that even nature reflects this unity, citing the annual wildebeest migration where millions of animals move freely between the Serengeti and Maasai Mara, guided not by political boundaries but by natural survival instincts.