Kenya has welcomed the appointment of two of its nationals, Beatrice Obado and Kevit Desai, to the 54-member Spain–Africa Advisory Committee during a meeting with Jaime Moreno, Ambassador of Spain to Kenya, on October 6, 2025.

The committee was established to guide the implementation of the Spain–Africa Strategy 2024–2028.

“Kenya proudly welcomes the appointment of two of our distinguished nationals, Prof. Beatrice Obado and Dr. Kevit Desai, to the 54-Member Spain–Africa Advisory Committee, established to guide the implementation of the Spain–Africa Strategy 2024–2028,” Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi posted on X.

Mudavadi said the appointments reflected the growing recognition of Kenyan expertise on the global stage. He added that the trust Spain placed in the two professionals was a sign of Kenya’s rise as a hub of thought leadership and innovation in Africa.

“I expressed confidence that their participation will enrich this important initiative and deepen the enduring bridge of friendship, cooperation, and shared prosperity between Africa and Spain,” Mudavadi added.

The Spain–Africa Advisory Committee

The Spain–Africa Advisory Committee is made up of 54 members, including 34 African and 20 Spanish experts from academia, business, institutions and civil society. Its role is to provide practical guidance on implementing the Spain–Africa Strategy, addressing common challenges at both bilateral and multilateral levels. The committee will meet in person annually, alternating its location between Spain and an African country.

Kenya’s bilateral relations with Spain have been growing steadily. Earlier in July, the second round of political consultations was held in Nairobi, where education, labour mobility, tourism and investment were confirmed as key pillars of cooperation.

Mudavadi reiterated Kenya’s commitment to fast-tracking the establishment of the Kenya–Spain Joint Higher Education Committee to implement the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Higher Education. This initiative aims to empower young people through knowledge and skills exchange.