State visit · 20 May 2026
Your Excellency, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good afternoon,
On behalf of the Kenyan delegation, I extend our sincere gratitude to the Government and people of Kazakhstan for the warmth, generosity, and exceptional hospitality extended to us since our arrival in this beautiful country.
As the first President of Kenya to make a State Visit to Kazakhstan, I come here with a clear message, Kenya is committed to elevating our partnership to a new era of strategic cooperation, shared prosperity, and enduring friendship.
Though our nations are separated by geography are united by the common aspirations for peace, sustainable development, economic transformation, respect for international law, and a multilateral system that serves all nations fairly and equally.
Our engagement today reaffirms not only the resilience of our relationship since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1993 but also our shared determination to shape a future defined by opportunity, innovation, and mutual progress. I thank President Tokayev for his gracious invitation and steadfast commitment to strengthening the bonds between our countries. Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
President Tokayev and I have held candid, constructive, and highly productive discussions aimed at deepening cooperation across a broad range of strategic sectors.
Together, we reviewed the state of our bilateral relations and agreed on practical measures to unlock new opportunities for trade, investment, innovation, and regional connectivity.
Kenya views Kazakhstan as a vital strategic partner and an important gateway to Central Asia and the wider Eurasian region. In turn, Kenya stands ready to serve as Kazakhstan’s gateway to East and Central Africa, and has invited Kazakhstan to establish Nairobi as a strategic base for its operations on the continent, while utilising the Ports of Mombasa and Lamu as key logistics gateways to regional markets.
To give concrete expression to the outcomes of our discussions and the shared ambitions of our partnership, President Tokayev and I have witnessed the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding and cooperation agreements across a broad range of strategic sectors, reflecting the growing depth and practical orientation of our partnership.
To strengthen connectivity and regional integration, we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at enhancing cooperation in intermodal and multimodal transport systems. We also discussed closer collaboration between Kazakhstan’s key transport corridors and Eastern Africa’s Northern Corridor and LAPSSET Corridor in order to facilitate trade, strengthen regional integration, and enhance global connectivity.
Recognising the transformative power of technology, we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on ICT and EGovernment Services to advance cooperation in digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, innovation ecosystems, and digital public service delivery.
Kenya continues to position itself as a leading technology and innovation hub in Africa, supported by a highly skilled and youthful workforce and growing opportunities in technologyenabled services and Business Process Outsourcing.
To advance sustainable industrial development, we have signed a Cooperation Agreement in the mining sector to support resource development, value addition, industrialisation, and job creation through the implementation of mining investment projects in Kenya, while strengthening the contribution of the sector to inclusive economic growth and community livelihoods.
We have further agreed to strengthen collaboration in remote sensing and space technologies through a new Memorandum of Understanding that will support agriculture, climate monitoring, environmental management, disaster response, and scientific innovation. This partnership will enhance food security, strengthen climate resilience, and better protect vulnerable communities from environmental and natural disasters.
Additional agreements signed today cover cooperation in investment promotion, financial services, tourism, commerce, and diplomatic training, further strengthening institutional collaboration and expanding opportunities for engagement between our two countries.
These agreements are instruments of action that reflect our shared determination to deepen collaboration, expand opportunity, and deliver tangible benefits to our peoples, and we are fully committed to ensuring their effective implementation.
On multilateral cooperation and climate action, we discussed the existential threat posed by climate change and underscored the urgent need for coordinated global action. I briefed President Tokayev on the outcomes of the inaugural Africa Climate Summit held in Nairobi in September 2023, including the Nairobi Declaration, which called for a more inclusive, equitable, and responsive global climate finance architecture.
Equally, I commend Kazakhstan for successfully hosting the Regional Ecological Summit in April 2026, which addressed critical regional challenges, including glacier melt, desertification, and rising temperatures. We believe the outcomes of that summit will strengthen global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience for a greener and more sustainable future.
We agreed to continue advocating for climate justice, fair access to climate financing, and reforms to the international financial architecture so that developing countries can access financing on fair and sustainable terms.
We also reaffirmed the urgent need for reforms to the multilateral system, including the United Nations Security Council and other global governance institutions, so that they become more representative, equitable, and responsive to contemporary global realities. Africa must have a stronger voice and fair representation in international decision-making processes.
In our discussions on regional and global peace and security, we expressed concern over the persistence of conflict and instability in different parts of the world. We reaffirmed dialogue and diplomacy as the surest path to lasting peace and agreed to continue working through regional and international institutions to advance peacebuilding and global stability.
Kenya further commends Kazakhstan for its leadership and commitment to nuclear and biological safety. President Tokayev’s efforts toward the establishment of the International Agency on Biological Safety demonstrate Kazakhstan’s commitment to a safer, more secure, and more sustainable world.
Allow me, once again, to express my sincere appreciation to His Excellency President Tokayev for the warm welcome and the highly productive engagement we have had today. Kenya remains firmly committed to deepening our partnership with Kazakhstan and unlocking the immense opportunities that exist between our nations, economies, and peoples.
I look forward to welcoming President Tokayev to Kenya in the near future as we continue building a dynamic, forward-looking, and transformative partnership for generations to come. I thank you. ###