Relations with Kenya

Malawi and Kenya enjoy robust bilateral relations, since 1960'S, emanating from a strong foundation of the Dr. Kamuzu Banda-Jomo Kenyatta amity. A similar colonial experience under the British has also contributed to the strong government-to-government, and people-to-people relations between the two countries. Malawi has continually maintained a resident mission in Nairobi, except for between 2005 and 2013, when it was closed. Kenya has always had a non-residential mission to Malawi based in Lusaka, Zambia.

The strength of the bilateral relations between Malawi and Kenya is evident on the basis of the long-standing high-level visits  between the two countries, the establishment of  representational diplomatic missions, a bilateral framework of cooperation, the Malawi-Kenya Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC) and collaboration within the realm of multilateral diplomacy, such as in the United Nations system.

Kenya remains a long-standing and reliable partner for defence and security cooperation as well as bench-marking for various Malawian Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The economic interaction between Malawi and Kenya revolves around trade, in agricultural produce from Malawi and agro-products and manufactured products from Kenya; as well as investment in Malawi by several Kenyan originating companies in areas such as security, courier services and ICT services.

A considerable number of Malawians are living, working and studying in Kenya. Malawians are employed in various intergovernmental organisations such as the UN, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the private sector. Other Malawians are undertaking undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate studies in various institutions of higher learning in Kenya. 

Malawians living, working and studying in Kenya have formed a voluntary non-partisan community engagement group called Association of Malawians in Kenya (AMAKE) and the Association of Malawian Students in Kenya.