The framework for scientific and academic cooperation between Italy and Kenya was renewed in 2026 through the signing of two Agreements. These build on a well-established tradition of bilateral cooperation, supported by a wide range of partnerships between Italian and Kenyan universities and research institutions.
During a mission to Nairobi on 8–9 February 2026, Italian Minister of University and Research Anna Maria Bernini, in the presence of Kenyan President William Ruto, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Higher Education, Training and Research with Kenya’s Minister of Education, Julius Migos Ogamba. The agreement seeks to consolidate and expand bilateral cooperation by promoting the mobility of students, academic staff, and researchers; supporting joint research projects; and strengthening scientific and research infrastructure.
The Memorandum was followed by a Joint Declaration on Research and Innovation between Italy’s Ministry of University and Research (MUR) and Kenya’s State Department for Science, Research and Innovation, which was signed in Rome on 21 April 2026, during President William Ruto’s state visit to Italy. The Declaration gives further substance to the commitments set out in the February Memorandum. It is intended to deepen cooperation among universities, research centres, and innovation ecosystems in both countries, while encouraging the development of joint programmes, research activities, and other collaborative initiatives.
A key element of the Declaration is the Flagship Transnational Mobility Initiative