Kenya has entered into several development cooperation agreements with Japan at the ongoing Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama City.
In a statement on Thursday, August 21, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo confirmed that the partnerships are spread across national development and healthcare.
According to the PS, among the deals signed is a Statement of Intent on the Samurai Bond, a financial instrument issued by foreign entities in the Japanese capital markets.
The agreement, signed between Kenya’s National Treasury and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance, is expected to help Kenya tap into Japan’s financial markets.
"Our plan to access financing in the Japanese capital markets is a leap forward in our innovative policy of diversifying resource mobilisation for priority national development and transformation," he noted.
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Omollo noted that Kenya also signed a Letter of Intent and Concept Note to accelerate access to Cefiderocol, an antibiotic approved for the treatment of bacterial pneumonia.
The agreement, signed between Kenya’s Ministry of Health and Shionogi & Co. Ltd of Japan, includes support from the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Foundation to ensure the supply of the medicine.
"We also signed a Letter of Intent and Concept Note to Accelerate Access to Cefiderocol, a crucial antibiotic approved for effective treatment of bacterial pneumonia, in Kenya. The agreement also provides for the supply of the medicine with support from the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Foundation.
"It was signed between Kenya's Ministry of Health and Shionogi and Co. Ltd of Japan, which specialises in pharmaceutical research, development and manufacturing," he added.
In addition, a Memorandum of Cooperation on Human Resource Development was signed between the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institution (KIRDI) and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
This comes a month after President William Ruto and United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed the renewed Kenya–UK Strategic Partnership 2025–2030, set to unlock over Ksh427 billion in investments.
In a statement on Tuesday, July 1, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said the deal is rooted in four key pillars, namely trade and investment, green growth and climate action, science and technology, and peace and security.
Mohamed noted that the partnership aims to double bilateral trade by 2030, provide digital skills training to 2.5 million Kenyans, and enhance cooperation in regional stability, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and climate resilience.
Speaking about the new partnership between the UK and Kenya, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the two nations have always had a close connection and the new deal will boost growth and create jobs.
"Through our shared history and values, the UK and Kenya have always had a close connection. Now we are building a shared future; a modern, innovative and respectful partnership which is delivering real benefits – boosting growth and creating jobs for both Kenyans and the British people. We’re going far, together," he said.
