Malaysian PM Anwar arrives in Kenya

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim./COURTERSY

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim begins his official visit to Kenya today, Sunday, November 23, in a trip expected to boost diplomatic and economic cooperation between Kuala Lumpur and Nairobi, with particular focus on the digital economy, housing, and education.

Anwar landed in Nairobi at around 6 pm, accompanied by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Zaliha Mustafa.

The Malaysian leader arrives fresh from the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. Upon arrival, Anwar will attend a state banquet hosted by President William Ruto at State House.

On Monday morning, he will return to State House for an official welcoming ceremony, a private meeting with Ruto, and bilateral talks between the two delegations.

The relations between Malaysia and Kenya have been steadily expanding across trade, education, science, technology, and investment. Affordable housing is set to feature prominently in the leaders’ discussions.

“The Kenyan President is very active in advancing affordable housing. Malaysia has been recognised globally for its success in enabling home ownership through similar programmes, and we are ready to share that expertise to help Kenya achieve comparable results,” Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Ruzaimi Mohamad, told a local newspaper.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim received by Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and other dignitaries when he landed in Nairobi on November 23, 2025/COURTESY

Ruzaimi added that the digital economy presents significant opportunities for Malaysian companies seeking to expand into East Africa. After the bilateral engagements, the two leaders will witness the signing of several cooperation agreements, including memoranda on tourism and a partnership between Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Nairobi City County.

Anwar will also deliver the keynote address at the Malaysia-Africa Higher Education Forum in Nairobi before opening the programme. He is further expected to speak at the Malaysia-Kenya high-level business forum, which will bring together around 200 business representatives from both countries.

During his visit, the PM will also hold a meeting with a Kenyan firm exploring agricultural investment collaboration with a Malaysian partner. He will later meet leaders of Kenya’s Islamic community and officials from Nairobi’s Jamia Mosque, where he will present copies of the Quran translated into Swahili.

Before wrapping up his mission, Anwar will attend a luncheon with Malaysians living in Kenya, including alumni of the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP).

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim with Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi in Nairobi on November 23, 2025/COURTESY

Since its establishment in 1980, more than 600 Kenyans have benefited from MTCP’s training courses and capacity-building programmes in public administration, education, technology, the economy and social development.

In 2024, Kenya became Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner in Africa, with bilateral trade rising to RM5.7 billion (Sh178.5 billion), a 1.2 per cent increase from 2023. Anwar’s visit comes as President Ruto continues to articulate his long-term plan to elevate Kenya into a first-world nation.

He has stated that his goal is to move Kenya from a developing to a developed economy within the next 20 to 30 years.

“We have what it takes—the ideas, the plan, the people, and the resources, to make Kenya a first-world country by 2055,” he said recently.

Ruto often cites the transformation journeys of countries such as China, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea and Singapore as evidence that Kenya can follow a similar path.

“Countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea and China were at the same level as Kenya some years back. Today they are first-world countries. If they did it, Kenya can also do it,” he said.

He insists that Kenya possesses the talent, energy and determination necessary to achieve such a transition, noting that disciplined execution and unity of purpose will be central to the country’s progress.

During the State of the Nation address Thursday, Ruto unveiled a Sh5 trillion expansive four-pillar development blueprint anchored on major energy expansion and modern transport infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and irrigation-led agricultural transformation.

Anwar departs Nairobi for Malaysia after concluding the final leg of his three-nation Africa tour, which began on November 18.