In a significant move to diversify its development funding and enhance its healthcare system, the Kenyan government has signed multiple cooperation agreements with Japanese partners during the ongoing Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9).
One of the cornerstone agreements is a Statement of Intent on the Samurai Bond, a financial instrument that allows foreign entities to raise capital in the Japanese markets. The deal, signed between Kenya’s National Treasury and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), marks a strategic leap in Kenya’s efforts to secure alternative financing for its national development priorities.
“Our plan to access financing in the Japanese capital markets is a leap forward in our innovative policy of diversifying resource mobilization,” said a representative from the Kenyan delegation.
In the health sector, Kenya took a major step toward combating antimicrobial resistance by signing a Letter of Intent and Concept Note to accelerate access to Cefiderocol. This vital antibiotic, developed by Japan’s Shionogi and Co. Ltd., is approved for the effective treatment of bacterial pneumonia. The agreement, signed between the Kenyan Ministry of Health and Shionogi, includes provisions for the supply of the medicine with support from the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP).
Further strengthening bilateral ties, a Memorandum of Cooperation on Human Resource Development was signed between the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI). This partnership aims to enhance skills and capacity building within Kenya’s industrial sector.
The signing ceremonies, attended by officials from both nations, underscore a growing partnership between Kenya and Japan, focusing on sustainable economic growth and improved public health outcomes.
