Egyptian-Kenyan relations represent an important model of regional cooperation that combines both strategic and developmental dimensions. These relations have gained renewed momentum in recent decades amid increasing regional and international challenges facing both countries. Cairo and Nairobi have been able to chart a course based on mutual understanding and shared interests, grounded in diplomatic ties that have lasted for over six decades. The distinctive geographical positions of both countries—Egypt serving as the gateway to the Mediterranean and the Arab world, while Kenya is a key commercial hub in East Africa—have given these relations a strategic character that makes them more than just bilateral ties; they form a pillar of regional balance and the enhancement of African integration.
First: The Deep Historical Roots of Egyptian-Kenyan Relations:
Egypt and Kenya share close historical relations that were established before Kenya’s independence. Egypt played a pivotal role in supporting the Kenyan people’s struggle against British colonial rule. During the presidency of Gamal Abdel Nasser, Cairo led a media and diplomatic campaign supporting the Mau Mau movement and its uprising. Egypt launched “Voice of Africa,” the first radio station to broadcast in Swahili from an African country, to support the Kenyan cause. Additionally, Egypt hosted many Kenyan freedom fighters, providing them with political and logistical support, and opened offices for Kenyan political parties in Cairo. These efforts contributed significantly to Kenya’s eventual independence in 1963.
With the declaration of Kenya’s independence and the establishment of the republic in 1964, official diplomatic relations between the two countries began with Kenya opening its embassy in Cairo. President Nasser expressed admiration for the Kenyan struggle and affirmed cooperation with Kenya to strengthen African forces and develop the continent’s resources. That same year, Egypt hosted the second African summit, where agreements were made on military cooperation to train the Kenyan national army. Egyptian experts and officers were sent to train Kenyan forces and support the building of a national army, reflecting Kenya’s desire to free itself from British influence.
Over the decades, Egypt and Kenya have continued to expand their joint cooperation across various fields, including the “Hydromet” project, a joint initiative to study water resources in the Nile River basin. Security and political relations have grown in response to regional and international challenges facing the continent. Since President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi assumed office, relations between the two countries have gained new momentum, emphasized defense cooperation and marked by historic visits to Nairobi. These developments reflect a shared aspiration to enhance security, stability, and development in the region, benefiting from the strategic geographic locations of both countries in East Africa and the Mediterranean[1].
Second: The fundamental pillars of the strategic partnership and cooperation between the two countries include:
1- Diplomatic and Political Cooperation:
Egypt and Kenya maintain strong diplomatic relations, with each country’s embassy in the other’s capital. Official visits between officials are ongoing to enhance bilateral cooperation. The Kenyan president during his recent visit, highlighted significant progress in strengthening diplomatic ties between Cairo and Nairobi, especially through the signing of joint agreements in fields like diplomatic training. These relations reflect a shared understanding of the complex challenges facing the African continent amid a changing global system characterized by increasing polarization among major powers. Furthermore, they recognize the great opportunities provided by Africa’s natural resources and promising developmental metrics.
In the context of strengthening this relationship, Egypt and Kenya agreed to intensify coordination and regular consultation on regional and international issues of shared interest, emphasizing the importance of efforts to strengthen the African Union’s role and improve its efficiency in facing continent-wide challenges. They also renewed their commitment to cooperate with member states sharing similar visions to strengthen the Union’s system in all its aspects, calling for necessary reforms to enhance the organization’s capacity for integration and sustainable development in Africa.
Additionally, they agreed to hold periodic consultations at appropriate levels to follow up on implementing the strategic partnership and to evaluate the achievements of joint cooperation systematically and effectively. This demonstrates Egypt and Kenya’s keenness to develop their political and diplomatic relations in line with current regional and global challenges[2].
2- Economic and Trade Cooperation:
EAC Membership:
Egypt and Kenya’s membership in the East African Community (EAC) is a key factor in enhancing economic integration. Established in 1994, the EAC aims to create a free trade area among member states and has evolved into a customs union and a common market. Egypt joined the EAC in June 1998, and customs exemptions on imports began in 1999 based on the principle of reciprocity with certificates of origin. In October 2000, nine countries, including Egypt and Kenya, signed an agreement establishing a free trade area, providing full exemption from tariffs on imports accompanied by certificates of origin. The EAC reflects a commitment by member states to promote economic cooperation for sustainable development.
Joint Committee:
The Egyptian-Kenyan Joint Committee was established in December 2016 as a platform to boost economic and trade relations, comprising ministers and officials from both countries. Working groups have been formed to enhance trade exchange and investments in sectors such as engineering, petrochemicals, agriculture, health, energy, and food. Achievements include donating a mobile laboratory unit for hepatitis C treatment, solar energy projects, and agricultural cooperation in crops like maize, soy, and rice. Quarterly meetings are held to follow up on projects, and warehouses and industrial facilities have been established in vital commercial zones to facilitate exports.
Trade Exchange:
Trade between Egypt and Kenya continues to evolve, with trade volume reaching USD567 million in 2024, compared to USD638 million in 2023, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics. Egypt’s exports to Kenya amounted to approximately USD307 million in 2024, while Egyptian imports from Kenya reached USD260 million. Egyptian exports include paper, electrical appliances, food products, plastics, and steel. Imports from Kenya mainly comprise coffee, tea, spices, fruits, and paper[3].
Investment:
Mutual investments between Egypt and Kenya are growing significantly. Egypt ranks 24th among investors in the Kenyan market with investments valued at $36.6 million, while Kenya is ranked 80th in the Egyptian market. One of Egypt’s prominent investments in Kenya is Citadel Capital, which owns 85% of shares in Rift Valley Railways, operating railway lines. Both countries aim to further industrial cooperation in the agricultural and livestock sectors, along with facilitating the registration of medicines and reducing their costs[4].
3- Water Cooperation:
Egypt and Kenya work together on developing water resource management, particularly in hydropower and modern irrigation systems, since the Nile River connects them. Kenya is an active member of the Nile Basin Initiative, which fosters direct cooperation with Egypt on water management issues, addressing challenges such as population growth, increased water demand, and climate change impacts. They agreed on the necessity of bilateral and regional cooperation to meet vital water needs, ensure sustainable supplies for agriculture and food production, and preserve the ecosystem.
Egypt faces severe water shortages due to its heavy dependence on the Nile, which provides about 98% of its water needs, with an estimated deficit of 55%, placing it below the global water poverty line. The Egyptian president emphasized the importance of positive coordination with Nile Basin countries to prevent harm to any party. Egypt is committed to supporting legal and developmental initiatives to implement projects benefiting all basin countries.
Furthermore, Egypt and Kenya collaborate on tangible projects, including a memorandum signed in 2016 for developing water dams, excavating wells, implementing modern agricultural irrigation systems, and training Kenyan technical staff in water management inside and outside Egypt. They have also signed agreements to drill and supply water to arid regions in Kenya, reflecting deep developmental partnership in the water sector.
This partnership exists in the framework of multiple initiatives at both bilateral and regional levels, with countries committed to regular consultations to strengthen water cooperation, adhering to international law and principles of harm avoidance, to ensure water security and sustainable development for all Nile Basin countries. Egypt, as chair of the African Ministers’ Council on Water, aims to deepen this cooperation at the continental level.
4- Security and Military Cooperation:
Egypt’s expanding military and security activities are part of its broader strategic aim to ensure security and stability across Africa, especially in the Nile Basin and the Horn of Africa. This reflects Egypt’s vision of promoting regional peace through strong security partnerships, especially with countries like Kenya that face increasing security challenges.
Egypt and Kenya cooperate increasingly in counter-terrorism and organized crime, due to rising security threats across Africa. The Egyptian and Kenyan presidents discussed developments in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, emphasizing the risks posed by Israeli military actions in Gaza and the need to reinforce joint efforts to resolve regional crises such as the Sudan conflict[5].
Both sides stressed that security cooperation is a core element of their strategic partnership, agreeing to exchange expertise across military, security, ideological, environmental, and developmental domains. They committed to expanding counter-terrorism efforts and addressing the growing terrorist threat in Africa.
Previous meetings highlighted the importance of activating security cooperation, emphasizing the role of Al-Azhar in promoting true Islamic teachings and combating extremism, including training Kenyan imams and preachers.
5- Cultural and Educational Cooperation:
Cultural and educational exchange between Egypt and Kenya has a long history, fostering people-to-people ties across generations. Education and scientific research are vital pillars of their partnership, and both governments have renewed their commitment to support arts, cultural events, and preserving shared heritage. Agreements also focus on expanding higher education cooperation through scholarships, exchange programs, and modern curricula aligned with societal needs. Building human and institutional capacities remains central to their strategy, supported by Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development and Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding (CCCPA)[6].
6- Environmental Cooperation:
Egypt and Kenya recognize climate change as a global threat affecting Africa more than any other region, requiring coordinated international and regional solutions. They emphasize the urgent need to enhance joint efforts to confront environmental challenges, especially in agriculture and food security sectors highly affected by climate crises. They also call for reforming the global climate financing system to be more innovative, equitable, and responsive to developing countries’ heavy debts. Cooperative efforts aim to promote sustainable development and environmental protection to ensure the well-being of the continent’s peoples.
Third: Shared Challenges and Hopes between the Two Countries:
Egypt and Kenya hold prominent positions on the continental level and share long-standing relations based on mutual respect. Kenya values Egypt’s role during its struggle against colonialism. Both countries face significant economic challenges, particularly regarding water issues. Kenya has postponed signing the Nile Basin water agreement, “Entebbe,” while keen to avoid harming Egypt’s interests. Despite these challenges, the two countries seek to enhance their partnership in military, trade, and cultural cooperation. Egypt continues to contribute to building the Kenyan army, with a military cooperation agreement also signed between the two countries in 2021.
Although there is strong political and military momentum, trade exchange remains somewhat limited, largely due to the dominance of local consumption patterns. Both parties aim to overcome this by strengthening economic integration and benefiting from shared market advantages. Egypt is the second-largest importer of tea from Kenya, which is an important trading partner within the COMESA framework. Trade experiences some fluctuations due to shortages in foreign currency liquidity, underscoring the importance of establishing barter exchange platforms for goods between the two countries. Each country has its own economic advantages: Kenya supplies significant imports of meat and foodstuffs, while Egypt excels in technology, engineering materials, and pharmaceuticals[7].
In conclusion,Egyptian-Kenyan relations represent a distinguished model of regional cooperation combining strategic and developmental dimensions. Founded on strong historical bonds of mutual support and understanding spanning six decades, Egypt and Kenya have succeeded in broadening their relations to encompass diverse political, economic, security, and cultural fields. They benefit from the strategic geographical location of each and their pivotal role in the African continent. Despite multiple challenges, especially economic and regional, relations between the two countries remain a fundamental pillar for enhancing security, stability, and comprehensive development in the region, with great hopes for deepening integration and cooperation at all levels.
This model of partnership reflects the strength of political will and a shared desire to build a better future for their peoples. It emphasizes the importance of continuing efforts to increase trade volume, develop joint projects, and achieve sustainable investments that promote economic and social development in Africa. Ongoing dialogue and coordination between Egypt and Kenya remain an effective means to overcome disputes and resolve complex regional issues, enhancing their roles as two influential African powers in the journey toward continental integration and development.
References:
[1] علي فوزي، بعد اتصال الرئيس اليوم.. ما لا تعرفه عن تاريخ العلاقات المصرية الكينية، بوابة الفجر الإلكترونية، 08/مارس/2023.
