Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi is set to embark on a three-day official visit to Rabat, Morocco, beginning Sunday. The visit, which follows a previously postponed invitation from Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, marks a significant step toward strengthening bilateral relations between Kenya and Morocco.
A key highlight of Mudavadi’s itinerary will be the official inauguration of the Kenya Embassy in Rabat, a major diplomatic milestone that underscores Kenya’s commitment to enhancing its presence in North Africa. Kenya and Morocco established diplomatic relations in 1965, but the embassy in Rabat was only formally opened in December 2023. This development followed discussions between President William Ruto and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch during the Dakar II Feed Africa Summit in January 2023.
According to a statement from the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s office, Mudavadi will hold high-level consultations with Moroccan leadership, including a meeting with Prime Minister Akhannouch. Talks will center on enhancing trade and investment, addressing a trade imbalance that significantly favors Morocco. Kenya’s exports to the North African nation—mainly tea, coffee, textiles, fruits, and vegetables—total approximately Sh480 million. In contrast, imports from Morocco, including fertilisers, oils, and aircraft parts, are valued at about Sh12.1 billion.
In addition to political and economic discussions, Mudavadi will engage with Morocco’s ministers of agriculture and trade to explore collaborative opportunities in key sectors. Several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed during the visit. These include agreements on housing and a cooperation framework between Kenya’s Foreign Service Academy and Morocco’s Diplomatic Academy, aimed at boosting institutional knowledge exchange.
The establishment of the Kenyan embassy in Rabat places the country among a select group with diplomatic missions in three strategic North African nations Egypt, Algeria, and now Morocco positioning Kenya to better engage in regional affairs and trade across the continent.
Mudavadi’s visit is seen as a strategic move to not only balance trade but also to enhance Kenya’s global diplomacy through stronger bilateral and regional partnerships.
