Nairobi and Havana are turning a new diplomatic page, expanding their cooperation beyond the well-known medical exchanges to a robust partnership focused on the health of the land itself. In the corridors of the Seventh Session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, officials from both nations struck a fresh accord to combat the planetary crisis together.

This is not merely diplomatic posturing; it is a commitment with a concrete deadline. By March 2026, Kenya and Cuba intend to operationalize a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) designed to share scientific technology and strategies. The goal is clear: to bolster Kenya’s resilience against biodiversity loss and urban pollution—issues that directly impact the livelihoods and health of millions of Kenyans.

A Timeline for Action

The breakthrough came following high-level talks between Environment and Climate Change Principal Secretary Festus Ng’eno and a Cuban delegation led by Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Environment, Prof. Rudy Montero Mata. Joined by Cuba’s Ambassador to Kenya, Inés Fors Fernández, the team agreed to bypass bureaucratic delays.

PS Ng’eno confirmed that joint technical teams have been constituted effective immediately. Their mandate is to refine the draft MOU, ensuring every clause delivers value before the final signatures are inked early next year.

“We agreed to establish joint technical teams that will immediately begin refining the draft MOU, paving the way for its signing in March next year,” Ng’eno stated, signaling a shift toward rapid implementation.

The Science of Survival

While details of the technical exchange are still being finalized, the scope of the agreement targets critical gaps in Kenya’s environmental management. The cooperation will focus on five key pillars:

• Biodiversity Conservation: Protecting indigenous flora and fauna that support Kenya's tourism and agriculture sectors.
• Pollution Control: Leveraging scientific methods to mitigate industrial and urban waste.
• Environmental Monitoring: Using data to predict and manage climate shocks.
• Ecosystem Management: Restoring degraded lands to productivity.
• Scientific Exchange: Sharing research and technological innovations between Kenyan and Cuban experts.

For Kenya, this partnership aligns with a broader strategy to look beyond traditional Western allies for climate solutions. PS Ng’eno emphasized that the deal is part of leveraging international alliances to accelerate sustainable development, ensuring that global scientific advancements translate into cleaner air and water for local communities.

“Honoured to meet with Cuba’s Deputy Minister and Ambassador H.E. Inés Fors Fernández on the margins of UNEA-7, where we advanced a new Kenya–Cuba partnership on environmental protection,” Ng’eno added.