(Left) Musalia Mudavadi PCS and CS of Foreign Affairs (right) Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeyhun Bayramov.
Azerbaijan has officially inaugurated its embassy premises in Nairobi, marking a significant milestone as the two countries celebrate 20 years of diplomatic relations.
The inauguration, held on Monday, was attended by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeyhun Bayramov. The move signals deepening ties and a renewed commitment to strengthening Kenya-Azerbaijan cooperation across multiple sectors.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mudavadi highlighted Kenya’s readiness to broaden the scope of collaboration with Azerbaijan following last month’s inaugural Bilateral Political Consultations held in Nairobi.
“The discussions revolved around a wide range of topics, including trade and investment, agriculture, energy, education, defence, industry, multilateral cooperation, and peace and security,” said Mudavadi.
He affirmed Kenya’s commitment to implementing key action points from the consultations, including the finalization of pending Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and initiating new agreements in ICT, Education, and Defense.
Since its establishment in 2023, Azerbaijan’s embassy in Kenya has served as a critical diplomatic bridge, reinforcing Nairobi’s role as a regional hub for international engagement.
“I thank the Kenyan government and acknowledge the favourable environment created for the functioning of our diplomatic mission,” said Minister Bayramov.
Bayramov emphasized Azerbaijan’s interest in collaborating with Kenya within international bodies such as the United Nations. He also praised Kenya’s youth policies and expressed interest in developing partnerships focused on youth, culture, and sports.
“We are thrilled by how Kenya integrates its policies with the real expectations of citizens. We look forward to learning and collaborating on this front,” he said.
In a push for enhanced educational cooperation, Bayramov revealed that Azerbaijan is working on establishing a framework to offer specialized diplomatic training for young Kenyan diplomats.
Earlier in the day, Mudavadi hosted bilateral talks with the Azerbaijani delegation at his Railways office, where they discussed global governance priorities, including climate change. He congratulated Azerbaijan for hosting the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku last year, where critical issues such as climate financing and carbon markets were addressed.
Mudavadi urged Azerbaijan to support Africa’s position to establish the Global Plastics Treaty Secretariat in Nairobi, citing the city’s role as the headquarters of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The proposal will be advanced during the second session of the 5th Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee Meeting in Geneva this August.
Looking ahead to the 7th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in December 2025, Mudavadi announced Kenya’s plans to sponsor two resolutions on Artificial Intelligence and Sports and the Environment. He invited Azerbaijan to co-sponsor the initiatives.
In urban development, Mudavadi commended Azerbaijan for securing the bid to host the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Baku in 2026 and pledged Kenya’s active participation.
“Kenya looks forward to contributing to meaningful dialogue and exchange of best practices on inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities next year in Baku,” he said.
Minister Bayramov also met with President William Ruto at State House, where he extended an invitation for a State Visit to Baku, underscoring Azerbaijan’s commitment to deepening its strategic partnership with Kenya.
The diplomatic milestone reflects growing momentum in bilateral relations and sets the stage for expanded cooperation in areas critical to sustainable development and global governance