Kenya is actively seeking a mutually beneficial partnership with Russia, focusing on enhancing trade and economic cooperation between the two nations.
Speaking on the sidelines of the First Ministerial Conference of Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, where he represented the Kenyan government, the country’s ambassador to Moscow, Peter Mathuki, noted that President Vladimir Putin’s administration is prepared to make substantial investments in Kenya and the rest of Africa. Consequently, Nairobi aims to benefit from this initiative.
“Russia is ready to invest in Africa and is looking for countries to partner with. This forum is crucial as it highlights areas for collaboration regarding Kenya-Russia ties,” he said.
Mathuki explained that Nairobi is negotiating with Moscow on sectors with significant investment potential, emphasising that “Kenya, as the economic powerhouse of East Africa, is an ideal place for investment,”. “Kenya is the place, and that is what we are presenting here.” he said
For instance, the envoy revealed that there are numerous opportunities in agriculture, and Kenya intends to leverage Russian technologies and expertise to enhance its food security goals.
“Russia is eager to invest in Kenya’s agriculture. The country is highly advanced in this field and wishes to transfer its agricultural technologies to us. We have invited them to invest and support Kenya in achieving food security,” he said.
Additionally, Russia is renowned for its fertiliser production. In this context, Ambassador Mathuki indicated that the Kenyan government is exploring how its fertiliser manufacturing companies can establish operations in Kenya.
“This will ensure that instead of importing fertiliser, we can produce it locally. Once these fertiliser companies set up in Kenya, they will also be able to connect with the entire East African market,” he said.
Beyond agriculture, the diplomat noted that although many African students travel to Russia for higher education, the number of Kenyans enrolling in Russian universities remains low.
“This is an area that Kenya has not fully exploited. Moscow offers excellent opportunities for Kenyans to study in various fields. Currently, we are getting 60 Russian government scholarships annually and aim to double or triple that number. We want our students to take full advantage of these opportunities,” he said.
Energy cooperation was also a high priority on Kenya’s agenda during the Ministerial Conference. Mathuki described Russia as “one of the superpowers in the energy sector,” offering significant potential benefits for Kenya.
“We are exploring ways to partner with them to strengthen our energy infrastructure in Kenya. With the right energy solutions, we can improve manufacturing, reduce production costs, and lower the cost of living. We are keen to see how we can collaborate,” he stated.
“This is why this ministerial meeting is important because it is coming with a roadmap on how it is going to partner with different African countries across different sectors. We encourage their investors to consider investing in our economy,” added Mathuki, highlighting the significance of the two-day Ministerial Conference in Russia.
At the same time, the envoy disclosed that he used the opportunity to promote Kenya as a tourism hotspot, inviting Russian nationals to choose the country as their holiday destination.
“Kenya is a premier tourist destination, and many Russian citizens are eager to visit our country, explore our tourism sites, enjoy safaris, relax on our beaches, and much more,” he said.
He also revealed Russia’s interest in investing in Kenya’s infrastructure and housing projects.
