State Visit or Official Visit? Questions as Ruto tours Japan

On February 5, 2024, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed issued a statement noting that Ruto would make a State visit to Japan from January 6 to strengthen and rekindle bilateral relations between Kenya and Japan.

Mohammed also noted that Ruto's visit marks the first State visit by a Kenyan president to the Asian nation after the late President Mwai Kibaki's over two decades ago.

However, a statement dated January 26, 2024, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan announced that Ruto would be making an official visit to Japan.

This therefore raised questions about the difference between a State and an official visit.

State Visit.

A State visit is a high-profile visit made by a head of state to a foreign country. 

Only heads of state can be accorded a state visit which is considered the highest form of diplomatic engagement and bilateral relations between two sovereign states.

Upon arrival to the host nation, the visiting Head of State is welcomed by the president and then given a state reception. It includes the inspection of a guard of honour, the playing of two national anthems (of each nation) and gun salutes.

The visits also entail the visiting of the host country's landmarks to take part in honorouble ceremonies such as laying a wreath at a military shrine or cemetery.

A visiting head of state is usually accompanied by his top government officials usually the foreign minister. 

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi arrived in Tokyo on Monday alongside other officials ahead of Ruto's visit on Tuesday.

An example of a state visit is when President of Poland Andrzej Duda with his Spouse Agata Kornhauser visited Kenya on Sunday for a two-day state visit.

Duda was welcomed officially by President Ruto and First Lady Rachael Ruto at State House, given a 21-gun salute and also did a review of a military guard of honour.

A ceremony of signing bilateral documents in the presence of the presidents followed suit before they addressed the media.

An official luncheon was later hosted by President Ruto and the First Lady and President Duda also will took part in a wreath–laying ceremony at the National Monument at Uhuru Gardens Park.

Official visit.

An official state visit is a visit by either the Head of State or government officials representing a nation.

Such kind of visits are less ceremonial and not much emphasis is put on including pomp and color for the visit. It is also known as an official working visit.