Kenya and the Dominican Republic have embarked on a historic step toward closer diplomatic ties with their first-ever political consultations held in Santo Domingo on May 11, 2025. The high-level talks signal a growing interest in cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean, with both nations pledging to enhance collaboration in security, health, trade, and regional peace efforts.

Kenya’s delegation, led by Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi, arrived in the Dominican capital following a U.S. visit. Accompanying him were National Security Adviser Ambassador Monica Juma, Senator Veronica Maina, and Ambassador Mwenda Karisa, Kenya’s envoy to Cuba.

Mudavadi held talks with Vice Minister for Bilateral Relations Francisco Caraballo and Chief of Protocol Ambassador Francisco Cantizano. Both sides expressed commitment to deepening bilateral ties, with several agreements expected to be signed during the visit. Key among them are memoranda on medical evacuation, repatriation of personnel, and logistics for Kenyan forces involved in the Haiti peace support mission.

The consultations are the first tangible outcome of a 2023 meeting between Kenyan President William Ruto and Dominican President Luis Abinader. That meeting saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations and a Framework Cooperation Agreement to establish long-term diplomatic and developmental ties.

The political consultations are expected to lay the foundation for broader engagement between the two nations, reflecting a growing geopolitical interest in South-South cooperation.