Kenya and Brazil sign tourism MoU as Mudavadi seeks Haiti mission backing
Kenya and Brazil have strengthened their bilateral relations by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on tourism, as Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi continues high-level engagements to lobby support for the Haiti peace mission.
In a statement posted on his X account on May 17, 2025, Mudavadi, who is in Brasília for the 5th Kenya-Brazil Political Consultations, announced that he held a meeting with Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mauro Vieira, during which they discussed deepening cooperation across a range of sectors.
“Productive engagement with H.E. Amb. Mauro Vieira, Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, at his office in Brasília during the 5th Kenya-Brazil Political Consultations,” Mudavdi stated.
“We reaffirmed our commitment to deepening bilateral ties with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on tourism,” he added.
According to Mudavadi, the high-level discussions extended beyond tourism to explore opportunities for enhanced cooperation in agriculture, trade, investment, health, climate resilience, and security, alongside shared priorities on various multilateral platforms.
“Our discussions explored opportunities for enhanced cooperation in agriculture, trade, investment, health, climate resilience, and security, alongside shared priorities on the multilateral stage,” Mudavadi wrote.
Support for Haiti mission
Another key focus of Mudavadi’s diplomatic mission was garnering support for the ongoing Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) in Haiti, which has been working to restore stability in the Caribbean nation amid ongoing political turmoil and gang violence.
Mudavadi stated that he had briefed Ambassador Vieira on the status of the Kenya-led mission and appealed for Brazil’s technical and financial backing.
“I briefed Minister Vieira on the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti and appealed for Brazil’s technical and financial backing to bolster efforts in restoring peace and rebuilding Haitian livelihoods,” Mudavadi explained.
Kenya’s delegation to the consultations included Kenya’s Ambassador to Brazil, Andrew Karanja, and the Acting Director General for Political and Diplomatic Affairs at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Lucy Kiruthu.
Fate of the mission
The Haiti mission, which began in late 2024 following a UN Security Council resolution, has faced financial constraints that threaten its sustainability.
Its current mandate is set to expire later this year unless extended through further international engagement.
In a media interview on May 14, 2025, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen stated that unless the mission is renewed or integrated into a larger UN framework, Kenyan officers deployed in Haiti would begin returning home in October.
“There is a conversation going on in the UN about whether this should become a UN-led mission. If it does, we are likely to see more funding and an extension of the operation,” he said.
According to Murkomen, the officers had gained valuable experience that would be applied back home in security-related assignments once the mission ended.
“These officers have achieved a lot. The experience they’ve gained will be vital when they come back. We will assign them roles that match their new expertise,” he explained.
