Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has embarked on a crucial visit to Namibia, marking a significant step in enhancing bilateral relations and fostering economic cooperation between the two nations. His visit, which began on Sunday, focuses on a Mid-Term Review meeting centered on advancing mutual interests and addressing key diplomatic and economic issues.
The primary agenda for Mudavadi’s trip includes promoting Kenya and Namibia’s Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and soliciting support for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson position in the upcoming February 2025 elections. The Prime CS will meet with high-ranking Namibian officials, including Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Peya Mushelenga, to discuss and advance these objectives.
Kenya and Namibia have enjoyed diplomatic relations since 1964, with both countries actively participating in the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) and the COMESA-SADC-EAC Tripartite Free Trade Area. These agreements are aimed at enhancing economic integration and cooperation within the Eastern and Southern African regions.
The visit also aims to strengthen the Kenya-Namibia Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC), which was established in 1992 through a General Agreement on Cooperation. This initiative encompasses various sectors, including agriculture, aviation, and more recently, economic and trade relations. Mudavadi is expected to push for increased collaborations in several areas, including business, diplomacy, and the establishment of a Namibian Diplomatic Mission in Nairobi.
One of the key goals of Mudavadi’s visit is to address the trade imbalance between Kenya and Namibia. Currently, the balance of trade is skewed in favor of Namibia, with Kenya exporting goods worth Sh106.31 million compared to imports worth Sh117.76 million. Kenyan exports to Namibia include medical supplies, electrical equipment, and petroleum products, while Namibia’s exports to Kenya comprise table salts, unwrought zinc, and alcoholic beverages. Mudavadi will advocate for strategies to improve Kenya’s trade balance by exploring potential export opportunities for Kenyan products such as black tea and coffee.
Additionally, Mudavadi will work on enhancing Kenya’s trade relations by benchmarking and cooperating in sectors like livestock keeping, the blue economy, and water conservation. Despite Namibia’s relatively small market size, it is considered an important new market for retailers, ranking second in Africa after Botswana according to the Global Retail Development Index 2013 by AT Kearney.
A significant aspect of Mudavadi’s visit will be addressing Kenyan investors’ concerns regarding business visas for Namibia. The Prime CS will follow up on Namibia’s promise to grant Kenyan business people five-year multiple-entry business visas. This development is expected to facilitate greater investment opportunities in Namibia’s cereal sector and beyond.
The visit also presents an opportunity to explore potential collaborations in aviation, including the establishment of direct flights between Nairobi and Windhoek and securing a fifth freedom landing rights for Kenya Airways (KQ) in Southern Africa. Additionally, Mudavadi will encourage Kenyan investors to leverage Namibia’s expertise in the marine sector and the blue economy.
In summary, Musalia Mudavadi’s visit to Namibia is set to bolster bilateral ties, address trade imbalances, and pave the way for enhanced economic cooperation. By advancing key MoUs and seeking support for Raila Odinga’s AUC bid, Mudavadi is reinforcing Kenya’s diplomatic and economic relationships while exploring new avenues for growth and investment.
