Kenya will on Monday officially inaugurate its embassy in Rabat following its opening in December 2023 as part of deepening bilateral relations.
Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi, who arrived in Rabat on Saturday for a three-day visit, will lead the inauguration, marking a key milestone in the intensified Kenya-Morocco ties since President William Ruto took power.
Ruto signalled Kenya's support for Morocco in his first diplomatic gaffe in which he departed from Kenya’s long-held position on Western Sahara. In a tweet, he withdrew Kenya’s recognition of Western Sahara just two days after taking office.
“Kenya is withdrawing its recognition of the SADR [Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic] and taking steps to reduce its presence in the country," the President wrote on Twitter after talks with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. The post was later deleted.
Morocco considers the contested Western Sahara as part of its territory, while Western Sahara — with the support of Algeria — has claimed sovereignty. In answering the Western Sahara question, Kenya is caught between the hostilities between Algeria and Morocco. Rabat accuses Algiers of destabilising the Sahara.
The Western Sahara question has been a contentious issue for Kenya’s diplomatic engagements with Morocco and Algeria, with Rabat recalling its ambassador in Nairobi for consultations over the matter in June 2005.
Rabat at the time said it “strongly deplores the unjustified and unjustifiable decision announced by Kenya to recognise the pseudo RASD (Saharwi Arab Democratic Republic) and to establish with its so-called diplomatic relations".
In February 2014, there was another diplomatic row after Western Sahara opened a mission in Nairobi. Then Senate Speaker Ekwe Ethuro had to visit Morocco to calm the tensions.
In January 2021, Morocco Ambassador El Mokhtar Ghambou urged Kenya to support the Moroccan Autonomy Plan in Western Sahara — which suggests making the territory a semi-autonomous region.
During the Mudavadi visit, Kenya will also sign five MoUs with the north African country in a bid to deepen ties and improve the balance of trade. The MoUs will include trade, agriculture, housing and another on cooperation between Kenya’s Foreign Service Academy and its Moroccan diplomatic academy counterpart.
Mudavadi during his stay, Mudavadi will hold bilateral talks with Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and the ministers of Agriculture and Trade.
The PCS will explore avenues for deepening bilateral relations between Kenya and Morocco following a previously postponed invitation extended by Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita.
“Mudavadi will seek to push for negotiations to see Kenya improve the balance of trade, which is currently in favour of Morocco. Kenya’s Exports are approximately Sh480 million of tea, coffee, textiles, fruits, and vegetables, while it imports from Morocco fertilizers, oils, and aircraft parts of about Sh12.1 billion,” the statement said.
In his meeting with Ambassador Jessica Gakinya and her team in Rabat, Mudavadi said they explored practical strategies to boost the volume and diversity of Kenyan exports to foster a more balanced and mutually beneficial trade relationship.
