Visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has praised Kenya’s strong commitment to poverty alleviation and affordable housing, terming it “remarkable leadership.”
Relating it to Malaysia’s own strategy to combat hardcore poverty, Anwar said: “I am, like you, very, very passionate about poverty alleviation, housing for the poor and for the masses.”
Speaking at a state banquet hosted by President William Samoei Ruto on Sunday, November 23, 2025, he said Kenya’s ambitious programme to build more than 150,000 affordable housing units for low-income communities reflected a bold and exemplary model of leadership.
Anwar, who is on a two-day official visit, said he was particularly inspired by Kenya’s use of governance and policy to uplift the poor, noting that such efforts align with the spirit of Kenya’s founding president, Jomo Kenyatta’s focus on the welfare of the masses.
President William Ruto, in response, commended Malaysia for what he described as a “remarkable journey of transformation.”
“We draw profound inspiration from Malaysia's remarkable transformation, a nation that chose bold ambition over the comfort of ordinary and rejected mediocrity in favor of excellence,” he said, noting Kenya’s own pursuit of far-reaching reforms.
“Confident not only in our own potential, but assured by Malaysia's example and the remarkable journey it has walked, we are advancing our Sh5 trillion plan to invest in our people, expand agricultural productivity, build world-class infrastructure and power our industries with reliable, abundant energy,” he added.
Prime Minister Anwar said Malaysia and Kenya have no reason not to elevate their bilateral cooperation, especially in trade and investment.
He noted Malaysia is ready to share technical expertise in the semiconductor and electrical and electronics sectors, while also learning from Kenya’s rapid development and strong determination.
Discussions between the two countries will continue on Monday, focusing on trade, investment, and broader economic cooperation.
Anwar, who also serves as Malaysia’s Finance Minister, was accompanied by the country's Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, senior officials and a business delegation.
In 2024, Kenya emerged as Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner in Africa, with total trade reaching RM5.7 billion (Sh178.2 billion), a 1.2 per cent increase from RM5.51 billion (KSh 172 billion) in 2023.
During his visit to Kenya, PM Anwar will also deliver the keynote address at the Malaysia-Africa Higher Education Forum in Nairobi before opening the programme. He is further expected to speak at the Malaysia-Kenya high-level business forum, which will bring together around 200 business representatives from both countries.
He will also hold a meeting with a Kenyan firm exploring agricultural investment collaboration with a Malaysian partner. He will later meet leaders of Kenya’s Islamic community and officials from Nairobi’s Jamia Mosque, where he will present copies of the Quran translated into Swahili.
