President Ruto stressed the need to strike a balance between security and trade, noting that both are important to Kenya’s national and regional interests.

“There is a delicate balance between security and trade, and both must be protected,” Ruto said during the interview.

The Kenyan leader also stated that his country has spent significant resources securing the border and supporting military operations inside Somalia aimed at countering armed militant groups. He added that Somalia’s political divisions and ongoing instability have complicated efforts to reopen the border between the two neighboring countries.

Ruto further emphasized the importance of regional economic cooperation and trade through organizations such as the East African Community (EAC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He said regional trade benefits all countries in East Africa but insisted that reopening the Somalia-Kenya border would depend on improvements in regional security and political stability.

The Kenya-Somalia border has faced repeated closures and heightened restrictions in recent years due to concerns over cross-border militant attacks, smuggling, and broader instability linked to the activities of the Al-Shabaab militant group.