In a move to enhance bilateral relations, Kenya and Algeria are preparing to formalize an expanded partnership through a new Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC). Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi made the announcement following a high-level meeting with Algeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, during the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Mudavadi expressed the importance of this collaboration, stating, “Our two countries must continue to work together to strengthen bilateral cooperation for the common good of the people of our two nations.” The upcoming JCC session, scheduled to take place in Kenya, will serve as a vital platform for strategic cooperation across various sectors, including agriculture, defense, and education.

Central to the agreement is the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), aimed at creating a unified market for goods and services across the continent. “Kenya is keen to expand trade engagements between our two countries through the AfCFTA frameworks,” Mudavadi emphasized.

Highlighting Kenya’s status as a commercial hub in East and Central Africa, he invited Algerian investors to explore opportunities, stating, “Kenya is a market of 400 million people.”

Mudavadi also commended Algeria for its donation of 16,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer to support Kenya’s agricultural sector and congratulated the country on its recent election to the United Nations Security Council for the 2024-2025 term.

In a diplomatic gesture, he urged Algeria to support former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s candidacy for the African Union Commission Chairperson position. Attaf confirmed Algeria’s readiness to advance the agreements, stating, “We are ready for the bilateral agreements and are waiting for Kenya to allow us to be in Nairobi for the signing.”