Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi announced that over 30,000 Kenyans are currently living and working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), significantly contributing to Kenya’s development through diaspora remittances and knowledge transfer. Speaking during the UAE’s 53rd National Day celebrations in Nairobi, he emphasized the importance of the 2018 Memorandum of Understanding between the two nations, which has facilitated labor migration.
“These Kenyans make a significant contribution to our country’s development through diaspora remittances and knowledge transfer, while also bridging the demand for labor in the UAE and Middle East,” Mudavadi stated.
Mudavadi, also Kenya’s Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary, highlighted the growing bilateral relations underpinned by strong trade and investment cooperation. He noted that the UAE is Kenya’s sixth-largest trading partner, with trade volumes increasing from KSh 142.5 billion in 2013 to KSh 460 billion in 2023. Kenya’s exports to the UAE include tea, meat, fruits, and flowers, while imports consist of petroleum products, polymers, and telecommunications equipment, reported by Citizen TV Kenya
He reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to deepening trade ties by prioritizing the UAE as a key export market and emphasized Kenya’s strategic role as a gateway to the East African Community (EAC), COMESA, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which provide access to over 1.4 billion people.
Mudavadi lauded the ongoing negotiations for the Kenya–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (UAEK-CEPA), which he said would enhance trade, investment, and economic activities. He also welcomed the planned resumption of Etihad Airways flights later this year, which will boost connectivity between the two countries.
He highlighted 60 years of diplomatic relations between Kenya and the UAE, describing the partnership as vibrant and mutually beneficial. He also noted the UAE’s leadership in renewable energy and sustainability, commending its collaboration with Kenya on initiatives like the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa, launched at the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi.
Additionally, Mudavadi pointed to the UAE’s active participation in Kenya’s October 2024 investor roadshow, including discussions with the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development. He also recognized the private sector’s role in enhancing economic ties, citing a recent trade mission organized by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry as an example of growing business interest.
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of innovative collaborations to foster mutual growth and strengthen the relationship between Kenya and the UAE.