Kenya reaffirms commitment to political solutions for regional conflicts
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to political solutions for conflicts happening in the Horn of Africa region.
Mudavadi said the conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo have led to loss of lives, displacement of millions of people from their homes, as well as food insecurity, challenges that ‘require concerted efforts at the regional and international level to address them’.
“Kenya strongly believes in the primacy of political solutions and consistently advocates for the peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue, negotiation, mediation and full implementation of the Jeddah Declaration of 2023. We are convinced that only through inclusive political processes can the Sudanese people find a sustainable path to peace and reconciliation. Military force will only exacerbate the suffering and prolong the crisis,” he said.
He was speaking during King Charles III’s 77th Birthday Party, organised by the British High Commission in Nairobi, where he also lauded the UK’s leadership in convening the London Conference on Sudan in April 2025, noting that it underscored the two nations’ shared commitment to addressing the ongoing crisis in Sudan.
“Kenya remains deeply concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation and wishes to reiterate the urgent need for a sustainable political solution to the Sudan conflict,” added the CS.
The two nations have enjoyed cordial relations spanning over six decades and continue via mutual engagements in trade and investment, ICT, health, energy, infrastructure, climate action, as well as peace and security sectors.
“The Kenya-UK economic partnership is a sound framework for deepening cooperation between our two countries. We look forward to more partnerships with the UK, particularly in green investments, including the realisation of the Nairobi Railway City project that is already in progress,” Mudavadi added.
His host, the UK Chargé d’affaires Ed Barnett, said this year marked a new chapter in the two nations’ diplomatic relations.
“In July, President William Ruto and Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a new five-year Kenya-UK Strategic Partnership, setting out our shared ambition to double trade, increase investment and green growth, build climate resilience, partner in regional security through defence, and collaborate across science, tech and innovation. Looking around today, I know our future is bright and our partnership will only get stronger,” he added.
The King’s Birthday this year is celebrating the best of what both Kenya and the UK contribute to arts, culture and education, exploring themes of innovation, sustainability, identity and the links between technology and heritage.
In the lead-up Friday’s events, the British Council organised a joint prize-winning UK-Kenya exhibition that began in May and ends on November 23, exploring the role of architecture as a tool of repair and renewal.
At the same time, Blankets and Wine made its debut in the UK as part of Bradford’s City of Culture, with great collaborations between musicians in Kenya and the UK.
The season also opened up opportunities for nearly 40 creatives from Kenya and the UK who developed new work across theatre, music, visual arts, design and performance.
Some Kenyan designs were also showcased at the African Fashion Week in London 2025, introducing Kenyan designs to new audiences and markets.
