President William Ruto holds talks with His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, in Doha, on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development, November 4, 2025. /PCSKenya and Qatar have agreed to expand their partnership through new investments in key sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure and finance.
The deal was struck following talks between President William Ruto and His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, in Doha on Tuesday.
“Kenya and Qatar enjoy a strong and growing partnership founded on a mutual commitment to deepen cooperation in priority sectors,” Ruto said.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development and focused on strengthening cooperation in areas that will “accelerate development and deliver meaningful benefits to our citizens.”
“We agreed to expand Qatar’s investment footprint in Kenya, particularly in agriculture, infrastructure, and financial partnerships, to drive economic growth and unlock new opportunities,” Ruto said via a statement issued on X.
He noted that Qatar’s support for Kenya’s mega-dams programme will be central to enhancing food security and bringing nearly two million acres under irrigation.
The government’s large-scale dam plan is part of a broader initiative to reduce reliance on rain-fed agriculture and boost agricultural productivity.
The Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation has listed several dams, including the Thwake and High Grand Falls projects, among priority infrastructure to be delivered under public-private partnerships.
The President also confirmed that the two countries are strengthening cooperation through the upcoming establishment of Kenya’s Sovereign Wealth Fund and National Infrastructure Fund, which will mobilise capital for transformative national projects.
“In aviation, we reaffirmed the newly signed Kenya Airways–Qatar Airways partnership to enhance connectivity, trade, and tourism,” Ruto said.
The collaboration is expected to expand route networks and improve cargo and passenger services through Doha, one of the world’s busiest international hubs.
Beyond economic collaboration, the two leaders also discussed regional peace and security.
“We resolved to intensify joint efforts to promote peace and stability in our region, including supporting diplomatic initiatives in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” the President said.
The talks reflect a growing partnership between Kenya and Qatar, which have in recent years strengthened ties across economic and diplomatic spheres.
The talks also reaffirm Kenya’s broader strategy of attracting long-term foreign investment from Gulf states to support its development agenda under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
For Qatar, the engagement strengthens its presence in East Africa and aligns with its strategy to diversify global investments.
Qatar has in recent years expanded its footprint in Kenya’s economy, with investments in oil exploration, aviation, and hospitality.
The two nations have maintained strong trade relations, and Doha has expressed interest in additional partnerships in energy, the blue economy and infrastructure.
