Kenya has taken another decisive move in consolidating its rapprochement with Morocco, signing 11 new cooperation agreements.
The agreements were signed at the ministerial session of the inaugural Kenya–Morocco Joint Commission of Cooperation the two countries in Nairobi on Thursday.
Kenya’s Foreign ministry in a statement said the move seeks to elevate bilateral relations in key strategic areas.
These are in agriculture, justice, health, fisheries and aquaculture, gender, equality and women’s empowerment, cultural cooperation, higher education, scholarships, internships and the sharing of expertise, sports, immigration and Wildlife management.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi said the progress builds on the five MoUs signed on May 27, 2025 in Rabat, Morocco, during his official working visit at the invitation of his counterpart Nasser Bourita.
“These instruments now lay the groundwork for practical collaboration. The true measure of our success will lie in the impact these instruments will have on the lives of our citizens and not just in the documents signed,” Mudavadi said.
He added that Kenya views Morocco as a strategic partner in advancing economic transformation and South-South cooperation
While the signing signals deepening bilateral ties since President William Ruto came to power in September 2022, it also sends a wider message on the recalibration of Nairobi’s long-standing position on the Western Sahara dispute.
The statement carried a carefully crafted diplomatic position on Western Sahara, one of Africa’s most sensitive and polarising geopolitical questions.
Mudavadi reaffirmed Kenya’s support for the United Nations-led process as the “exclusive mechanism” for resolving the dispute, referencing recent UN Security Council resolutions.
He said the two states continue to find common purpose within the AU and the UN towards “peaceful resolution of conflicts, and African-led solutions that advance stability and prosperity on the African continent”.
“Towards this end, Kenya supports the United Nations framework as an exclusive mechanism to finding a lasting and durable political solution to the dispute over the Sahara issue with the relevant UNSC resolutions on this matter.
“The exclusivity of the United Nations in this political process remains pivotal and we reaffirm support to the UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2756 (2024).” Mudavadi said.
This marks a yet another departure from Kenya’s historically firmer backing of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and its right to self-determination, a position long championed by Algeria and the Polisario Front, as well as recognised by the AU.
By avoiding explicit reference to self-determination or a referendum, and instead emphasising the UN framework, Kenya is aligning itself more closely with Morocco’s preferred approach—an autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty.
In what was termed as the first diplomatic goof by the Kenya Kwanza Administration, upon taking office, President Ruto tweeted that Kenya was dropping its recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, only to delete the tweet shortly after.
Kenya’s ties with Morocco have warmed significantly since then, with Nairobi inaugurating its first-ever embassy in Rabat in May 2025. This effectively ended years of strained relations, much to the chagrin of Algeria.
Since then, high-level exchanges and economic cooperation have accelerated, with Kenya increasingly viewing Morocco as a strategic gateway to North and West Africa.
Mudavadi’s framing of Morocco as a partner in “South–South cooperation” and economic transformation underscores the pragmatic logic behind the shift. Rabat’s strengths in fertiliser production, renewable energy, automotive manufacturing, and infrastructure development align closely with Kenya’s domestic priorities, particularly in food security and industrialisation.
Already, Morocco has emerged as a key partner in fertiliser supply and agricultural support.
However, Algeria, a major regional power and staunch backer of the Sahrawi cause, remains influential within the AU and broader continental politics.
Consequently, the endorsement of Morocco’s position could strain Nairobi’s relations with Algiers and complicate its standing in multilateral forums. Notably, Algeria Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf visited Nairobi in April, following Morocco’s advances towards Kenya.
Kenya’s decision to appoint an inaugural ambassador to Morocco and withdraw accreditation of the envoy to Western Sahara particularly raised concerns in Algiers.
It is this tension that explains Kenya’s tough diplomatic balancing act.
While Kenya maybe pursuing a dual-track approach, the intensified and warm ties with Rabat are expected to trigger discussions in Algiers.
The establishment of the Joint Commission of Cooperation provides a structured mechanism for engagement, with the two states signalling long-term commitment annd regular consultations.
Beyond bilateral gains, Morocco has, in recent years, intensified its diplomatic outreach across Africa.
Given Kenya’s diplomatic weight in East Africa, the move adds momentum to this Rabat’s lobbying and may influence how other countries in the region position themselves.
