Kenya-Israel Relations

Historical background

Bilateral relations between Kenya and Israel can be traced way back to over a century when in August 1903 the then British Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain offered the Zionists a part of Kenyan territory through the edict called the “Uganda scheme” for their autonomous State at the 6th Zionist Congress. Although this suggestion created much controversy among the international Jewish Community, and was subsequently rejected at the 7th Zionist Congress, in 1905, several Jewish families immigrated to Kenya culminating in building of a Jewish Synagogue in Nairobi in 1913. Jewish settlement in Kenya therefore, began in the early 1900s. At the moment several hundred Kenyans of Jewish origin live and call Kenya their first home.

When the British set up a detention camp in Gilgil, a town in the Kenyan Rift Valley in March 1947, in-order to hold captured members of the “Irgun” and “Lehi” Jewish underground organizations deported from Palestine, it was the Jewish community who had emigrated a few years into Kenya who took care of these prisoners. This rich history of our relations was re-lived by some of the remnant prisoners when they visited the grave site of their colleagues in Gilgil early in the year 2010.

 

Diplomatic and Political Relations

Israel was the first country on 10th December, 1963, to lay a foundation stone for her Embassy in Kenya, two (2) days before the declaration of Kenya’s independence on 12th December, 1963. Israel was also the first country to build her Embassy in Nairobi. While many countries around the globe played a “wait and see” diplomatic approach following the exit of the British from Kenya, Israel’s then Foreign Affairs Minister, Golda Meir flew to Nairobi and discussed the country’s plans to establish the Embassy in Kenya with H.E. Jomo Kenyatta, the Founding President of Kenya.

Kenya and Israel have had therefore very cordial relations ever since. Although these relations ruptured in 1973 when the organization of African Unity (OAU) Member States, including Kenya, resolved to sever ties with Israel because of the Arab – Israeli war of 1973 (Yom Kippur War), both countries continued to have low level people-people relations.

However, on 23rd December, 1988 Kenya re-established Diplomatic relations with Israel. The historic visit to Israel in January, 1994 by Kenya’s former President Daniel Arap Moi further enhanced our bilateral relations. Thereafter, Kenya’s first Ambassador to Israel was appointed in March, 1994.

In July 1976 Kenya supported Israel during the Entebbe raid. A friendship that has endured and Kenya is also grateful to Israel for among others, the rescue assistance extended during the bombings of the US Embassy in Nairobi in 1998 and the collapsed building in Nairobi in early 2006.

The relations between the two countries are productive and friendly in various fields and are underpinned by strong people to people ties, offering a strong basis for future growth. Both countries are looking to closer co-operation in political, trade and economic relations, science and technology, culture and academic exchanges.

 

Kenya has appointed five Ambassadors to Israel since 1994  as follows:

  • Ambassador Samuel Thuita; Presentation of Credentials: 14/02/2019 to date
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  • Am​bassador Augostino Stephen Karanu Njoroge; Presentation of Credentials: 05/07/2010
  •  
  • ​​Am​bassador Felistas Vunoro Khayumbi; Presentation of Credentials: 04/05/2004
  •  
  • Am​bassador Michael Sergon; Presentation of Credentials: 2003
  •  
  • Am​bassador John Malan Sawe; Presentation of Credentials: 23/03/1994

MASHAV

Development Cooperation under MASHAV

The Government of the State of Israel through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs disburses technical assistance to developing countries including Kenya in form of training through the Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV).

MASHAV provides a significant number of training opportunities for Kenyans in various specialized fields. Training opportunities for Kenyans under MASHAV and other training arrangements have seen a major growth in recent years. Indeed, Kenya ranks as the highest recipient of MASHAV Technical Assistance.

 

The following MASHAV programmes/courses are offered in Israel:

PROGRAMME/COURSE INSTITUTION

  • Integrated Urban-Rural Development; Weitz Center for Development studies
  • Plant Protection and Inspection Services; Centre for International Agricultural Development cooperation (CINADCO)
  • Entrepreneurship for Youth – A tool to Poverty Alleviation; Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training
  • Postgraduate Training in Medicine; Tel Aviv University
  • Organic Farming Principles and Practices; CINADCO
  • Postgraduate Course on Food Management; Hebrew University of Jerusalem
  • Co-operative Development (enterprises Development); Negev institute for Strategies of Peace and Development (NISPED)
  • Postgraduate Course on aquaculture – production and management; Hebrew University of Jerusalem
  • Comprehensive and Integrative Public Support Systems for SMEs – A Central factor of Development Studies; Negev institute for strategies of peace and Development (NISPED)
  • Research and Development in New concepts in integrated Pest Management; CINADCO
  • Media for Social Change; Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Center
  • Postgraduate Course on Groundwater Exploration, Water Resources Exploitation and Conservation; Hebrew University of Jerusalem
  • International training of Trainers Course Communication for Development; Golda Meir Mount Carmel international Training Center
  • International Master of Public Health; Hebrew University of Jerusalem
  • Master of Social Studies (Urban Planning); Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
  • Master of Desert Ecology; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
  • Sexual Health and AIDs Prevention for Adolescents; Ofri International Training Center Jerusalem
  • Water Resources Management and Urban Supply; CINADCO
  • Advanced international Postgraduate Course on the Meteorology and Environmental aspects of sustainable Water Management WMO; Regional meteorological training center for Postgraduate Training in applied Meteorology, Bet Dagon
  • International Post Graduate Training in Medicine; Tel Aviv University
  • Education for Sustainable Development; Ofri International Training Center, MASHAV

 

For more information on training opportunities please visit: https://www.gov.il/en/departments/mashav-office/govil-landing-page or visit website of the Embassy of Israel in Nairobi.

 

Agricultural Cooperation

Kenya and Israel cooperate in the field of agriculture. This is because Israel has technical and scientific know-how that can help transform and improve food insecurity in East Africa. There are two key approached: the Galana-Kulalu Food Security project and the training of agricultural students in the Arava International Center for Agricultural Training (AICAT).

The Galana Kulalu food security project was launched in September 2014 with Greem Arava of Israel granted the contract to carry out the project. The Model Farm covers 10,000 acres and is expected to transform the production in a semi-arid environment.

Agricultural training at the  Arava International Center for Agricultural Training (AICAT) begun in 2016 allowing students to undertake an  eleven month agricultural training program in the Arava desert in Israel. Here Kenyan students learn both theory and practical lessons by working with Israeli farmers who are leading in the field of arid and semi-arid agriculture. By 2020, four cohorts of students have undertaken the training with others opting to further pursue Masters and PhDs in Israeli institutions for Higher Learning.

 

Bilateral Cooperation

The Government of the Republic of Kenya and the State of Israel remain committed to enhancing existing bilateral relations and do this through the regular holding of the Bilateral Political and Development Dialogue. During this engagement the Governments review their political, economic, cultural commitments and set out ways to further enhance diplomatic relations for the mutual benefit of our peoples. It is through this engagement that Agreements are signed by the Heads of State and Government or the respective Foreign Ministers.

In addition to the above, the exchange of High Level visits demonstrates the flourishing relations between the two countries.