By John Toris 

Kenya and Egypt have pledged to deepen their partnership, focusing on trade, water security, and peace in the Horn of Africa. This follows talks in Nairobi on Monday between Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Egypt’s visiting Foreign Minister, Dr. Badr Abdelatty.

Dr. Abdelatty is on an official visit to Kenya, which officials say is aimed at building on the momentum of a State Visit by President William Ruto to Cairo in January 2025.

Speaking to the press after their meeting, Mudavadi highlighted the historic bond between the two nations.

"Kenya values its longstanding and historic relationship with the Arab Republic of Egypt—a partnership founded on mutual respect, shared African heritage, and a common responsibility for regional stability and progress," Mudavadi stated.

Reviewing the Strategic Partnership

The two leaders discussed the progress of the "Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership" agreed upon by Presidents Ruto and Abdel Fattah El-Sisi last year. During that visit, the countries signed twelve bilateral agreements covering sectors like trade, education, technology, and housing.

Mudavadi noted that both countries are working to ensure these deals are implemented effectively. He revealed that a Mid-Term Review (MTR) is planned to assess progress and tackle any challenges.

"We have taken note of Egypt's interest in aligning this visit with the Africa-France Summit to be held in Nairobi in May 2026, and Kenya remains open to constructive engagement on this proposal," Mudavadi added, referring to a possible State Visit by President El-Sisi later this year.

Boosting Trade and Business

On the economic front, the two ministers agreed that there is a need to make it easier for businesses to trade. They encouraged the private sector in both countries to work more closely together.

"In our engagement we emphasized the need to streamline trade [and] address various trade facilitation inefficiencies to unlock economic resilience and shared prosperity," the Prime Cabinet Secretary said.

They also discussed fast-tracking the formation of a Kenya-Egypt Joint Business Council to help diversify the products traded between the two nations.

Dialogue Over Nile Waters

A key point of discussion was water security and the management of the Nile Basin. Mudavadi reiterated Kenya’s stance on the shared resource, emphasizing that no country should be disadvantaged.

"Kenya reaffirmed its principled position that no party should be left worse off in the utilization of shared water resources," he stated.

Mudavadi acknowledged Egypt's concerns regarding the Nile waters and expressed Kenya’s willingness to act as an "impartial facilitator" to encourage dialogue.

"Kenya acknowledges Egypt's position as articulated during the 33rd Nile Council of Ministers held in Bujumbura in December 2025, which calls for dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect," he said.

Development Support and Regional Peace

Mudavadi also thanked Egypt for pledging USD 7 million for development projects in Kenya and for offering capacity-building support in areas such as diplomacy, security, and agriculture.

On matters of peace, both nations reaffirmed their commitment to stabilizing the Horn of Africa.

"We reaffirmed our steadfast commitment to supporting peace initiatives in the Horn of Africa. Our shared efforts aim is not only to secure stability but also to foster sustainable development and prosperity for our people," Mudavadi noted.

Kenya Seeks Egypt’s Support for AU Candidatures

During the discussions, Kenya officially presented its candidates for various African Union and international seats. These include Judge Phoebe Okowa for the International Court of Justice and Ms. Nkatha Murungi for the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

Mudavadi said Kenya values Egypt's engagement in these multilateral processes, adding that Nairobi remains committed to advancing a unified and financially sustainable African Union.