‘Kenya is an influential country in Africa and is an important partner for Norway, both in Africa and at the global level. Our cooperation with Kenya, which started as traditional development assistance, has now become a broad partnership encompassing areas ranging from business and trade to the pursuit of peace and sustainable development. There is great potential to expand cooperation even further – not least between the Norwegian and Kenyan business sectors,’ said Prime Minister Støre.

Discussions between Mr Støre and Mr Ruto focused particularly on business and economic cooperation. Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide and Minister of International Development Åsmund Aukrust also took part in the working dinner. Issues relating to climate change and the environment, peace and security, respect for international law and efforts to strengthen the United Nations were also discussed.

During the visit, Norway and Kenya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on further developing cooperation on peace and conflict resolution.

‘Norway and Kenya are already working together to promote peace and security, for example in Sudan and South Sudan. This agreement will enhance these efforts,’ said Mr Støre.

‘Norway greatly values its collaboration with Kenya on ocean issues, climate change and green development. Working together we can find better solutions that create jobs and protect the environment. We are also cooperating closely on UN reform,’ said Mr Støre.

In the course of the day, President Ruto met with representatives of the Norwegian business community and various public authorities and institutions. He also had an audience with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon and attended the Oslo Forum. During the visit Norway and Kenya entered into an agreement on strengthened cooperation on climate action through trade in carbon credits (Article 6 under the Paris Agreement).

‘As ocean states, we are working together to promote sustainable ocean management, for example in the High-level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy. Our countries share ambitions to achieve sustainable solutions and advance the green transition,’ said Mr Støre.

Facts about Norway's cooperation with Kenya

  • President Ruto’s visit to Norway is the first visit from Kenya at head-of-state level. It illustrates the increasingly close relationship between the two countries.
  • Our cooperation started as traditional development assistance, and has now become a broad partnership encompassing business and trade, climate and ocean issues, peace and security, and multilateral cooperation.
  • Some 40 Norwegian companies are established in Kenya. Norway also has significant investments in the country via Norfund, Norad and the Government Pension Fund Global, and is thus contributing to employment and economic growth in Kenya.
  • Kenya is an influential country in Africa that plays an important role in regional and global affairs. It hosts the only United Nations headquarters in the Global South – including the main office of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) – and is often referred to as the world’s climate and environment capital.
  • Kenya’s economy is the seventh largest in Africa and the largest in East Africa.