In March 2026, two African countries took advantage of an international investment forum in Kenya’s capital Nairobi to strengthen their growing bilateral relations.
Kenya and Mozambique added to their wide-ranging collaboration by signing three Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) during the 4th Kenya International Investment Conference (KIICO) hosted in Nairobi.
Mozambique was invited as the chief guest in the conference where investors from nations that participated in KIICO signed business deals worth around $2.9 billion
Host President William Ruto disclosed that his invitation to Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo to grace the occasion doubled up as a culmination of signing cooperation agreements between the two countries.
Open African Tribune understands that the three MOUs covered collaborations in youth development, penitentiary and correctional services, sports, and diplomacy training services.
During the March 26 event at State House, Nairobi, Kenya’s Prime and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi and his Mozambican counterpart Maria Manuela dos Santos were the first to sign the MOU.
Mudavadi signed the MOU on diplomatic training, research and capacity building.
The MOU’s objective is to enhance cooperation in diplomatic training, activities in foreign policy, research and analysis and exchange of information and publications between the party based on reciprocity of mutual benefit.
The two ministers also signed the minutes of the event christened the Third Session of Kenya-Mozambique Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation. The two countries held two similar engagements earlier.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Interior Coordination and National Administration (Internal Security) and Manuela signed the second MOU on Cooperation in the field of penitentiary correctional services.
The objective of the Mou is to establish a framework for cooperation between the parties on how best to improve services, standards and correlation and institutions.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sport, Salim Mvurya and Mozambique’s Minister of Economy Basílio Zefanias Muhate signed another MOU on cooperation on youths’ affairs and sports.
This MOU, visibly dear to Chapo, will facilitate mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries in the field of youth development and sports, and consolidate bilateral relations.
According to Ruto, these agreements align with broader continental goals of increasing intra-African trade and cooperation just like MOUs the two countries signed in 2023.
In 2023, Ruto and his delegation travelled to Maputo and signed eight MOUs with the former Mozambican president Filipe Nyusi.
Alfred Mutua, the former Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs in Kenya then said that the two countries were keen on strengthening trade relations for mutual benefits of citizens.
The 2023 MOUs covered cooperation in mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, transfer of sentenced prisoners, mutual recognition and exchange of driving licences, blue economy, fishery and defence cooperation agreement.
Chapo and Ruto confirmed that Kenyans and Mozambicans can drive in each other’s countries without being stopped by police officers.
During the 2023 visit to Maputo, Ruto said that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), signed in 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda, and currently ratified by 49 nations in the continent was an opportunity for Africa to grow its economies leveraging private and public partnerships.
Presently, the two countries are actively engaging each other in addressing tariffs and non-tariffs barriers to unlock greater trade flows.
“We are just from an important conference where we signed investments into Kenya worth $ 3 billion in 10 counties in Kenya. Your participation has increased foreign direct investments that come to Kenya,” Ruto told Chapo.
Bungoma, Uasin Gishu, Kericho, Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Tana River and Mombasa are among Kenyan counties
The Kenyan president disclosed that investors from at least 10 countries including India, Australia, US, UK, China and local investors participated and signed agreements that will cause investment into Kenya.
The investments cut across agriculture, manufacturing, ICT, business process outsourcing, healthcare, energy and real estate.
Kenyan business mogul and CEO of Equity Bank James Mwangi who attended a state lunch hosted for president Chapo recounted how Ruto personally introduced him to Mozambican authorities and urged them to facilitate the bank’s entry into the market.
Mwangi confirmed they had already scheduled a meeting to advance the discussions on Equity’s entry into Mozambique on April 27, 2026.
The bank currently operates in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo and its entry in Mozambique would push it deep into Southern Africa.
A successful entry would cement Ruto’s sentiments that, “Such agreements affirm Mozambique’s central role as Kenya’s strategic partner in Southern Africa.”
Regarding the signed memoranda, Ruto and Chapo agreed there was laudable progress in strengthening trade and economic cooperation.
Sectors of Cooperation highlighted by Ruto
Mozambique and Kenya identified pharmaceuticals, tea, edible oils, cosmetics, industrial products, agro-processing, areas in energy, especially energy cooperation as opportunities for mutual growth.
“Energy cooperation is central to advancing sustainable development and inclusive growth in our two countries. We recognised strong complementarities between our economies, particularly Mozambique’s natural gas and coal resources, and Kenya’s growing energy needs and our progress in clean energy from geothermal to wind, solar, hydro and now going to nuclear,” Ruto explained.
Kenya’s president underscored how exploitation of coal in Mozambique could power important industries like cement manufacturing companies in Kenya.
The MOU’s aim is to strengthen collaboration in renewable energy to support reliable, sustainable and diversified energy mix in both the country’s national power grids.
The discovery of over 100 trillion cubic feet of Natural Liquefied Gas (LNG) in Mozambique’s Rovuma Basin pumped optimism in the energy cooperation conversation.
“The gas in Mozambique can help reduce the effects of conflicts and delays we have in the value chain. It only takes 24 hours to travel between Mombasa and Beira and if we exploit the potential, we will have a more predictable and cost-effective supply,” Ruto supposed.
Chapo said Mozambique had four main projects to exploit the gas, citing a $7 billion ongoing deal with ENI, an Italian company.
“Another $15 billion stopped by terrorism activities was restarted and we are likely to get the gas in July or August 2026,” Chapo expounded.
Already Ukraine has approached Mozambique for LNG as the war in Iran continues to strain its energy supply.
Terrorism Threats
Ukraine needs new gas supplies after fallout with Russia and Mozambique needs security expertise to combat Islamist insurgency.
Kenya and Mozambique are alive to the fact that terrorism poses serious socioeconomic and human losses and agreed to share intelligence and jointly coordinate counterterrorism measures to attain stability.
They agreed to partner with regional and international partners to prevent and combat terrorism.
Ruto also explicitly highlighted the need for reforms at the African Union (AU), saying the regional body needed to be responsive even as he urged for continued collaboration among member states and championed the agenda for development.
President Chapo, animatedly appreciated the warm welcome by Kenya and honour to be guests at KIICO and waxed lyrical about progress made in identifying development opportunities.
“The only way to ensure there’s food on the tables of our people and their living conditions are better is by attracting capital for our countries and employment for our citizens,” Chapo said.
Sectors of Cooperation highlighted by Chapo
Chapo listed culture, transport and logistics, tourism and digital transformation among his cherished areas of cooperation.
Chapo could not conceal his awe from the visit to Konza Technopolis, popularly known as Konza City, a 5,000-acre, $14.5 billion smart city project in Machakos, Kenya.
The city is designed as a technology and innovation hub, dubbed “Africa’s Silicon Savannah and serves as a Huawei Data Center.
“It was very amazing to visit the smart city. It’s a great future for Kenya and Africa,” Chapo said.
Ruto indicated that Kenya was ready to give a charter to a Pan-African University at Konza City. The university will offer masters degrees and PhD courses to students from countries across Africa.
Chapo divulged that the two countries have signed at least 20 legal instruments that have been implemented and shown tangible results over years.
Previous MOUs covered diplomacy, politics, defence and security and migration agreements between Kenya and Mozambique.
Transport and Connectivity Between Kenya and Mozambique
Currently there are five weekly flights from Nairobi to Nampula in Mozambique but Chapo called for the reintroduction of direct flights to Maputo to which Ruto obliged.
“The flight between Nairobi and Maputo we had before is important for connecting our cities, good for business development and strengthening our relationships,” Chapo pointed out.
Kenya’s president recounted how he met many Kenyan businessmen in Maputo during his 2023 visit.
Former Mozambican president, Nyusi, praised the relations and enterprise Kenyans undertook and their contribution to the economy, emphasising the need for stronger relations.
The two delegations in the Nairobi meeting agreed to set up modalities for connecting Kenya’s port of Mombasa with Mozambique’s port in Beira city to boost trade and tourism activities between the two countries.
“Other areas of cooperation in transport are increasing Kenya Airways flights from Nairobi to Nampula and reintroducing direct flights from Nairobi to Maputo.
Maritime and blue economy sectors were an important topic in the meeting courtesy of extensive coastlines the two countries have.
Kenya and Mozambique indicated they will establish an integrated East-Southern Africa Logistics Corridor linking the port of Mombasa and Mozambique’s Beira port to enhance regional connectivity, reduce trade costs and delays, and support industrialisation and export growth.
“We are committed to promoting the sustainable utilisation of ocean resources including through cooperation in fishery, maritime security and the broader blue economy to drive inclusive growth,” Ruto reaffirmed.
Tourism Cooperation
Tourism featured prominently in the conversation, as a key driver of economic growth and cultural exchange besides being seen as an enabler of job creation.
“We are considering collaborations in joint destination marketing, development of integrated coastal and safari tourism circuits and the promotion of intra-African travel,” disclosed the Kenyan president.
The MOUs reemphasised strengthening cooperation between the countries’ tourism institutions and the private sector to increase visitor flows, diversify tourism markets and offer richer and more compelling travel experience across the region.
Youths and Sports Development Cooperations
Mozambican president was full of praise for Kenyan athletes saying his country had prioritised mentoring young people in sports.
While Mozambique has only two Olympic medals in history, Kenya bagged 11 medals from the 2024 Paris Olympics alone. Maria Mutola won Mozambique’s only Gold and Bronze medals in women’s 800m in 2000 and 1996 respectively.
“It’s our intentions to have scholarships for the young people in the sports sector. I was told that most of the athletes that win in the global competitions from Kenya are from the area the president of Kenya was born,” Chapo said.
He lightly said forging strong brotherhood ties with Kenya was a step closer to learning the secret to win in global competitions.
“They should be trained in Kenya that’s why for us this is very important. We need Mozambican runners in global events a d they need to train here. Discipline is the secret in success and Kenyan athletes are an example we want to learn from,” Chapo expounded.
Ruto weighed in on the request, even offering counsel on what Mozambican athletes need to learn from Kenyan athletes.
“It’s true that majority of the runners the region I was born. You have asked for advice and the biggest secret I can reveal is that world beating Kenyan athletes are very disciplined, wake up at 4 am in the morning to run, they control what they eat and use the gym diligently,” Ruto observed.
Kenya and Mozambique also have a cooperation facilitating student exchange programmes between the two countries.
According to Chapo, Mozambique has 65 students in various Kenyan universities and five cadets at the Kenyan Military Academy.
On the other hand, Kenya has six students in Mozambique universities (5 completing masters degrees and one PhD candidate).
“The ongoing student exchange programmes are paramount for development of human capital and is drafting the future of our countries and our people,” explained Chapo.
The presidents directed their ministers for Energy, Tourism, Trade and Commerce, Transport and Logistics and the Digital economy to meet in the shortest time possible and agree on clear modalities for implementation and deliver tangible progress.
They also underscored the rules-based international order in addressing global challenges like climate change, pandemic and conflicts through multilateral cooperation.
On the sidelines of the KIICO and MOU signing meetings, Chapo met with, the Mozambican diaspora in Kenya, including the Makondes, Kenyan citizens with Mozambican roots.
