The agreements were inked during the 10th Session of the Kenya–Rwanda Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation (JPCC), held in Nairobi from October 5 to 6, 2026.
According to the joint communiqué issued at the conclusion of the meeting, the agreements are intended to further strengthen the longstanding bilateral relationship between the two countries and provide a framework for increased cooperation across several sectors.
The newly signed instruments include an Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and an Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, alongside a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on political consultations.
The two countries also signed MoUs covering immigration matters, housing and urban development, diaspora management, water resources management and irrigation, and local governance.
Other agreements provide for cooperation between the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) and the Kenya National Police Service, as well as collaboration in culture and heritage and conservation.
The development comes as Kenya and Rwanda seek to translate their political relations into stronger practical cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, infrastructure, energy and regional integration.
The communiqué also noted that the two countries discussed ways to address barriers to trade, facilitate the movement of goods and services and strengthen business-to-business links where the Northern Corridor and the Port of Mombasa remain central to the economic relationship, with Rwanda continuing to use the port for its imports.
The two sides also highlighted initiatives including the Kenya Ports Authority Liaison Office in Kigali, land allocated to Rwanda at Miritini and Naivasha, and direct RwandAir flights between Kigali and Mombasa.
These discussions formed part of broader efforts to strengthen cooperation beyond trade and infrastructure, with Kenya and Rwanda also reaffirming their commitment to working together on peace and security, particularly in the Great Lakes Region.
The two countries also pledged to strengthen coordination through regional and continental bodies, including the East African Community (EAC), African Union (AU), COMESA and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
At the conclusion of the session, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, commended the strong bilateral relations between the two countries and expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the JPCC.
Rwanda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Usta Kaitesi, expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Kenya for the warm reception and hospitality extended to her delegation during their stay.
The 10th JPCC follows the previous session held in Kigali in 2023, which resulted in the signing of 10 memoranda of understanding in various areas of cooperation.
The two countries agreed that the 11th Session of the Kenya–Rwanda JPCC will be held in Rwanda in 2028, with the exact dates to be agreed through diplomatic channels.
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