Kenya has reached a new milestone in its relations with Morocco. In Nairobi, the Kenyan authorities signed 11 agreements with the Kingdom and reaffirmed their support for the autonomy plan for the Sahara. This stance is part of a broader international trend in favour of this initiative. Against this backdrop, an economic partnership between the two countries is rapidly taking shape.
On April 9, 2026, the Kenyan government and Morocco signed eleven bilateral agreements in Nairobi during a joint commission. These agreements cover agriculture, justice, health, maritime fisheries and aquaculture, gender equality, cultural cooperation, higher education, sports, wildlife, and visa exemption for diplomatic and official passports. A framework agreement was also signed for university scholarships, internships, and expertise sharing.
“Your Excellency, my brother, in following your remarks, I wish to affirm our strong conviction that this joint commission represents a renewed imperative for our bilateral cooperation. We are confident that Moroccan–Kenyan relations will see significant progress in the years to come.”
Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs – Morocco
In the joint communiqué issued at the end of the Commission’s proceedings, Kenya welcomed the momentum driven by King Mohammed VI, describing the Moroccan plan as a sustainable approach to resolving the regional dispute over the Sahara. This position forms part of a growing international dynamic, marked by the opening of more than 30 consulates in the southern provinces and the support of several major powers for this Moroccan initiative.
“Our two countries, thanks to our leaders, have been given direction, and it is our duty to implement it and ensure that the private sector between both countries works closely together so that we can achieve better results. I can assure you that, comparatively, if you look at the stock exchanges — where the capital markets are — South Africa, Morocco, Kenya and Egypt are truly the financial hubs of capital markets in Africa.”Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary – Kenya
Kenya supported UN Security Council Resolution 2797, which uses the Moroccan plan as a negotiation basis. Morocco, emphasizing the UN framework and cooperation, will leverage this strategic partnership with Kenya to boost its economic and diplomatic presence in East Africa. This meeting also signals economic growth, with bilateral trade reaching an estimated $80.4 million in 2024.
