Turkiye Ambassador Subutay Yüksel and Health CS Aden Duale during the 102nd anniversary of the founding of Türkiye Republic in NairobiThey spoke during celebrations to mark the 102nd anniversary of the founding of Türkiye in Nairobi.
Ambassador Yüksel underscored Ankara’s support for “African solutions to African problems,” noting that Türkiye recognizes Kenya’s central role in promoting peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.
“We are well aware of the central role that Kenya has been playing in promoting
peace, cooperation, and prosperity in the region and the continent.”
“We have witnessed the Kenyan government’s determination to carry these efforts even further,” Amb. Yüksel said.
Türkiye has over the past decade emerged as a key diplomatic and economic
player in the Horn—particularly in Somalia—through humanitarian aid, mediation,
and investing in infrastructure.
Its growing engagement aligns with Kenya’s
own diplomatic strategy of fostering peace in neighboring Somalia, Sudan, South
Sudan, and Ethiopia, where Nairobi has played leading mediation roles.
CS Duale, who was the guest of honour, praised Türkiye’s engagement in
promoting peace and stability in the region.
Duale, a former Defence minister, also acknowledged Türkiye’s collaboration with other African states on peacebuilding and humanitarian support.
“Kenya appreciates Türkiye’s growing role in supporting regional peace and stability in the Horn of Africa,” Duale said, adding that such partnerships were vital to building a stable and secure region. The two states are also deepening their defence and security cooperation, an area that has seen remarkable growth since the signing of the Defence Industry Cooperation Agreement in 2023.
The pact provides a framework for collaboration in defence production,
technology transfer, and training, including joint research in cutting-edge
military equipment.
Health CS Duale noted that the agreement represents a “great engagement” between the two nations, with Kenya benefiting from Türkiye’s advances in drone technology, intelligence-sharing, and training exchanges.
“Kenya and Türkiye enjoy a very strong partnership in defence matters. The 2023 agreement signalled a new phase of cooperation, including exchange of knowledge in cutting-edge defence technology,” he said.
The growing military ties also reflect Kenya’s broader effort to diversify its
international partnerships beyond its traditional Western allies.
The two sides also reaffirmed that trade and investment remain at the heart of their cooperation, driven by the synergy between Kenyan and Turkish entrepreneurs.
Ambassador Yüksel said Türkiye sees growing private-sector interest in investing in Kenya and expressed optimism that this “natural synergy” will translate into tangible gains for both nations.
“We see developing our trade and investment as our main duty, as it would
directly increase the prosperity of the Kenyan and Turkish people,” he said.
The envoy also commended Turkish Airlines’ resumption of the Istanbul–Mombasa flights earlier this week is a symbol of renewed engagement.
On his part, Duale invited more Turkish investors to explore opportunities in
renewable energy, affordable housing, manufacturing, and climate action.
He said Kenya’s membership in regional
blocs such as the EAC, COMESA, and AfCFTA offers access to wider markets.
“We encourage increased investment in our
country. Turkish investors should take advantage of Kenya’s membership of the
East Africa Community, the Common Market for Eastern and South, and Africa
COMESA and Commercial, and the AfCTA to benefit from what these markets have
to offer,” Duale said.
He also lauded Türkiye’s development cooperation through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), which has implemented numerous projects in health, education, water, and agriculture since 2012.
“TIKA’s work aligns with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic
Transformation Agenda of President William Ruto, improving livelihoods and
empowering communities across the country,” Duale said.
Ambassador Yüksel hailed the 58 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries as a model of mutual respect and shared interests, saying Türkiye remains “determined to develop and better use the potential of the two countries to serve our common interests.” Duale, who represented the Kenyan government at the event, described the relationship as “anchored on deep bonds of friendship and a shared vision for inclusive development.”
“Kenya stands ready to deepen cooperation with Türkiye in advancing global
peace, regional stability, and prosperity for the mutual benefit of our
people,” he said.
