President Ruto rings closing bell at New York Stock Exchange

Kenyan president William Ruto on Friday rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

In a statement on Friday, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed said that Ruto would ring the closing bell later in the evening. 

He rang the bell several times and people clapped.

The ringing of the closing bell signifies the closing of the day's trading.

Ruto also did a series of interviews with journalists at the New York Stock Exchange.

The bilateral talks will boost trade activities between Kenya, the US and other countries.

The President was accompanied by first lady Rachael Ruto, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Trade CS Moses Kuria, Foreign Affairs CS Alfred Mutua among other leaders on his tour of the US.

During his tour, Ruto called on the United States to invest in Africa.

He urged the US to review its economic partnership from that of a trade destination for the market of manufactured goods to that of an investment partnership.

He further urged the West to take advantage of Africa’s population and the prospects under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is on the cusp of taking off.

Ruto also acknowledged the availability of labour and green energy potential in Africa to drive prosperity on a global scale.

The President took the opportunity to market Kenya as one of the most favourable investment destinations for the US, attributing its competitive advantage to a maturing constitutional democracy and well-developed financial and commercial ecosystem.

At the same time, US President Joe Biden announced billions of dollars in new funding for Africa.

"The United States is 'all in' on Africa's future," President Biden told the over 40 African leaders attending the summit.

He also spoke optimistically of improved links with Africa and announced $55 billion (Sh6,765,000,000) in new funding for the continent over the next three years.

This included $100m (Sh12,291,000,000) for clean energy projects.