Turkey vows to maintain strong ties with Kenya

Türkiye provides undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships to Kenyan students. [iStockphoto]

Turkey has vowed to continue stronger ties with Kenya, which it regards as an important partner and a key actor in the East African region’s development.

Speaking during Stratcom Kenya Media workshop at a Nairobi hotel, the Turkish Ambassador to Kenya Cemil Miroglu said his country was committed to continuing the momentum in its bilateral relations with Kenya following their leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit in 2016. 

Miroglu said Turkey would strive to elevate the cooperation and encouraged Turkish businesses to invest in Kenya and advance business ties on a “win-win” basis. “This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Turkey and Kenya, and 54th anniversary of the opening of the Turkish Embassy in Kenya, one of Turkey’s oldest diplomatic missions in Africa,” said Miroglu.

He said humanitarian and development partnerships had been strong elements of Turkey’s cooperation with Kenya, while the country’s development agency - TiKA worked closely with Kenyan authorities on capacity-building since 2012.

“As of 2022, TiKA Nairobi office had successfully implemented around 300 projects all around Kenya focusing on agriculture, education, health, sustainable livelihoods and water supply and sanitation,” said Miroglu.

He noted that the projects undertaken by TiKA in Kenya not only touched and changed lives but also built bridges of friendship between the countries and their people.

He said education was another important aspect of the relations. Since the 1990s Türkiye provides undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships to Kenyan students.