• Morocco and Kenya signed five MoUs covering trade, housing, public service, and youth affairs
• Kenya seeks to boost tea, coffee, and produce exports to help balance its trade deficit with Morocco
• In 2023, bilateral trade totaled $24.49 million, heavily tilted in Morocco’s favor

Morocco and Kenya have strengthened their bilateral relationship through the signing of five memorandums of understanding (MoUs) spanning a range of sectors. The agreements were announced by the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, May 26, 2025.

The MoUs cover collaboration in housing, urban development, youth affairs, and capacity building in public service delivery. An additional agreement was signed between the Moroccan Institute for Training, Research, and Diplomatic Studies and the Kenyan Academy for External Services, further solidifying diplomatic cooperation. A separate MoU also aims to expand commercial exchange and economic cooperation between the two nations.

Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Minister, Musalia Mudavadi, emphasized the importance of implementing these agreements for mutual economic advancement. During his official visit to Morocco from May 25 to 27, 2025, Mudavadi held bilateral talks with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. The discussions included Kenya’s request to increase Morocco’s imports of Kenyan tea, coffee, and fresh produce in a bid to narrow the trade gap between the two nations.

Diplomatic ties between Morocco and Kenya had been tense in previous years due to Kenya’s earlier recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), linked to the disputed Western Sahara region. However, in September 2022, under the leadership of President William Ruto, Kenya revised its position and committed to enhancing cooperation with Morocco in fields such as trade, agriculture, tourism, health, and energy.

According to the International Trade Centre, total trade between the two countries reached $24.49 million in 2023. Morocco primarily exported fertilizers, oils, and aircraft spare parts, while Kenya’s main exports included tea, coffee, fruits, vegetables, and textiles. The trade balance remains skewed in Morocco’s favor, with Kenya’s exports valued at about 480 million shillings ($3.71 million) compared to imports from Morocco totaling about 12.1 billion shillings.