Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, held a high-level meeting with Ambassador Ilyas Ali Jabril, Somalia’s envoy to Kenya, aimed at deepening bilateral relations and enhancing peace and security in the Horn of Africa region.

In a statement shared via his official X account, Mudavadi emphasised that peace and security stand at the heart of Africa’s progress, noting that stability across the continent is the foundation for sustainable growth, trade, and people-to-people integration.

“Peace and security stand at the heart of Africa’s progress, creating the foundation for people-to-people movement and unlocking opportunities that strengthen diplomatic and economic ties across the continent. Kenya remains steadfast in advancing the continent’s stability, guided by the spirit of unity and cooperation, and anchored on the rich historical bonds we share with our neighbours and partners,” Mudavadi stated.

During the discussions held at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs headquarters in Nairobi, the two leaders explored ways to strengthen collaboration between Kenya and Somalia in key areas such as counterterrorism, cross-border trade, education exchange, and infrastructure development.

“Held productive discussions with the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Somalia, @Ijabril, exploring areas of collaboration that will foster regional stability, deepen bilateral cooperation and open new pathways for shared growth and prosperity,” Mudavadi wrote on X.

The talks come at a time when the Horn of Africa is grappling with security and humanitarian challenges, including the threat of extremism, climate-induced displacement, and food insecurity.

Kenya–Somalia Relations

Kenya and Somalia share deep historical, cultural, and economic ties that date back decades.

Kenya has also played a significant role in Somalia’s peace and reconstruction efforts, including hosting hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees and supporting peacekeeping operations under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

Trade between the two nations has also grown steadily, with Kenya exporting goods such as miraa, construction materials, and food products to Somalia.

The reopening of the Kenya–Somalia border in recent years has further boosted cross-border trade and movement of people.

However, relations have not been without challenges, including the 2021 maritime boundary dispute and temporary border closures linked to security concerns.