There are more than 70,000 Kenyans who are reportedly living and working in Qatar at the moment, with many others planning to do so.
That came to light during a recent meeting between Kenyan and Qatar officials.
In the shadow of that, Kenya and Qatar have agreed to institutionalize annual Bilateral Political Consultations as part of efforts to strengthen political dialogue and deepen cooperation between the two countries.
The inaugural consultations were led by the Kenyan Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dr. Korir Sing’Oei, and the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Qatar, Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi,
The two sides discussed a wide range of areas, including trade and investment, agriculture and food security, labour mobility, aviation, tourism, education, youth, sports, climate action and multilateral cooperation.
Kenya has on the other hand, invited increased Qatari investment in priority sectors, including renewable energy, agriculture, infrastructure, logistics, tourism and Special Economic Zones, and called for Qatar’s participation in Kenya’s USD 200 million Green Investment Fund.
On labour mobility, the two countries agreed to expedite discussions on the review of the 2012 Bilateral Labour Agreement, while Kenya welcomed continued employment opportunities for its citizens in Qatar, where more than 70,000 Kenyans live and work.
Kenya also requested Qatar to review restrictions affecting Kenyan meat exports, with both sides agreeing that relevant technical authorities will continue consultations towards a mutually acceptable solution.
The consultations further welcomed expanding cooperation between Kenya Airways and Qatar Airways, including increased air connectivity, cargo cooperation and opportunities for further aviation collaboration.
The two countries agreed that the Second Bilateral Political Consultations will be held in Nairobi in 2027, further strengthening the framework for regular political dialogue and follow-up.
The inaugural consultations mark a significant milestone in Kenya–Qatar relations and reaffirm the commitment of both countries to shared prosperity, sustainable development and stronger people-to-people ties.
