Kenya’s First Lady Rachel Ruto arrived in Salé on Monday for a working visit to Morocco, as Rabat and Nairobi continue to expand cooperation across a range of political, economic and development sectors.
The visit comes amid growing bilateral engagement between the two countries, with Kenya and Morocco having signed 11 cooperation agreements in recent years covering agriculture, education, fisheries, justice and security.
Rachel Ruto was received at Rabat-Salé Airport by Princess Lalla Asmaa and senior Moroccan officials. She also took part in a traditional welcoming ceremony before proceeding to her residence.
The agreements signed between Rabat and Nairobi reflect efforts to broaden cooperation beyond political relations and strengthen exchanges between public institutions in both countries.
Agriculture, education and fisheries have emerged as important areas of cooperation, with the two sides also seeking to increase exchanges of expertise and develop partnerships between their institutions.
Economic ties are also becoming a growing part of the bilateral relationship, with Morocco and Kenya looking to expand trade and investment in sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure and renewable energy.
The two countries are also negotiating new agreements in several strategic areas, including air services, ports, double taxation, energy, mining and tourism, according to Kenya’s Foreign Ministry.
Air connectivity is one of the issues being discussed by the two sides, with Rabat and Nairobi working toward arrangements that could help resume direct flights between the two capitals.
The restoration of direct air links could boost tourism, facilitate business exchanges and make travel between Morocco and Kenya easier, supporting the broader expansion of bilateral relations.
Kenya opened its diplomatic mission in Rabat in 2024, which Nairobi considers an important platform for strengthening its relations with Morocco and expanding engagement with North Africa.
Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’Oei, recently pointed to the growing number of bilateral agreements as evidence of increased diplomatic activity between the two countries.
He said the Kenyan Embassy in Rabat has the human resources needed to represent Kenya’s interests in Morocco and the wider region, while emphasizing its role in advancing bilateral cooperation.
The two countries are also seeking to deepen cooperation through new agreements and increased institutional exchanges, potentially giving their relationship a stronger economic dimension.
Rachel Ruto’s visit comes against this backdrop of expanding Rabat-Nairobi ties and ongoing efforts by both countries to develop cooperation in sectors ranging from trade and investment to tourism, education and infrastructure.
