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Kenya–Russia relations (Russian: Российско-кенийские отношения) are bilateral relations between Kenya and Russia. Russia had established diplomatic relations with Kenya on December 14, 1963, and has since maintained good relations with the African Great Lakes country.
Contents
Overview
During the Cold war, Kenya was part of the Non-aligned movement and thus maintained good relations with the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union even offered Kenyans scholarships to study in the country.
In May 1997, in Moscow, the foreign ministers of Russia and Kenya signed a Memorandum of ministerial consultations (last round was held in Nairobi in November 2009). In July 2008, Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula made a visit to Russia.
In July 2002, Moscow was visited by Kenyan MPs from the Committee on Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly.
In May 2005 in Moscow, the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources of Kenya signed an interdepartmental document on the main areas of cooperation, and in May 2006 a memorandum of understanding.
In November 2007, in Kenya, a delegation headed by the Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Svetlana Orlova.
In June 2009, in Moscow, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Kenya Najib Balala met with the Head of the Federal Tourism Agency A.I.Yarochkinym. In September 2009, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mrs. S.Mbarire held talks with Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Moscow G.V.Antyufeevym, representatives of the Russian Chamber of Commerce.
A delegation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Kenya, took part in the International Parliamentary Conference "Russia - Africa: Horizons of Cooperation", which was held June 15–16, 2010 in Moscow. In November 2010, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Nairobi. He had a conversation with the President of Kenya Mwai Kibaki ane talks with Acting Foreign Minister George Saitoti. During the visit, a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Foreign Service Institute Foreign Minister of Kenya, as well as an agreement on cooperation and cultural exchanges between the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography. This included an agreement between Peter the Great museum (Kunstkamera) and the National Museums of Kenya.
In January 2011, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Svetlana Orlova took part in the Russian-Kenyan business forum in Nairobi. In March 2011, on a short working visit to Moscow, the Acting Foreign Minister George Saitoti held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Development cooperation
In 2010, according to the Federal Customs Service of Russia trade totalled US$204.3 million from US$110 million in 2009.
Russian exports to Kenya were worth US$121.5 million, the main goods were steel, rubber, chemicals, solar panels, small quantities of consumer goods. Kenyan exports to Russia were worth US$82.8 million, the main goods were tea, coffee and flowers.
Russian private business structures are also hoping to gain the Kenyan market foothold e.g. "Kenruss Medix Co., Ltd.." (Medical equipment, commercial promotion scholarships to Russian universities) and "Rusmotors" (sale of cars "UAZ" and "KAMAZ"). KAMAZ was considering opening a truck assembly plant.
Kenya is annually visited by about 10,000 Russian tourists. To strengthen Russian-Kenyan cooperation agreement in the field of tourism Najib Balala, Kenyan Tourism Minister, visited Moscow in March 2011 to participate in the International Tourism Exhibition.
Transport
In November 2009, the Kenyan delegation led by the Minister of Transport Chirau Ali Mwakwere participated in the First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Moscow.
In 2010 JSC "Aeroflot - Russian Airlines" and "Kenya Airways' commercial agreement on joint operation of the route Moscow - Dubai - Nairobi, and Aeroflot was scheduled to perform passenger and cargo transportation on the route Moscow - Nairobi - Moscow.
Education
As of 2008, the Russian government and private companies have trained approximately 200 people. In addition, Russia annually grants Kenya 30 scholarships from the federal budget. The number dropped to 26 in 2010, because of organisational difficulties with the Kenyan side.
Diplomatic missions
Russia has an Embassy in Nairobi. Additionally, Kenya is represented in Russia through its Embassy in Moscow.