Questions over the ability of Kenya’s embassy in Rabat to communicate in Morocco have drawn a strong response from Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei, who has pointed to the rapid growth in ties between the two countries as proof that the mission is effectively carrying out its diplomatic role.
Sing’oei dismissed claims that Kenya’s mission in Morocco has a language problem, saying the embassy has the personnel and capacity required to represent Nairobi’s interests in the country and the wider North African region.
His remarks followed a post on X alleging that Kenyan officials at the Rabat embassy could not speak the local language and that the mission did not have an official translator.
"Kenya’s embassy in Rabat, Morocco, cannot speak the local language, and that is a diplomatic problem. There is no official translator for that," the user tweeted.
The claim prompted Sing’oei to question how Kenya and Morocco could have made notable progress in their diplomatic relations if the two sides were unable to communicate properly.
“How could all these happen if we were not communicating effectively?” Sing'oei posed.
The PS said relations between Nairobi and Rabat had moved forward quickly since Kenya opened its embassy in Rabat two years ago, with a series of high-level engagements helping to expand cooperation.
“Since its establishment two years ago, bilateral frameworks between our two countries have expanded rapidly following high-level visits,” Sing’oei said.
He pointed to the visit by Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch to Nairobi during the Africa Forward Summit in May 2026 as part of the high-level exchanges that have helped strengthen ties between the two countries.
Kenya and Morocco have also taken steps to formalise their growing cooperation, with 11 bilateral instruments signed during the first Kenya-Morocco Joint Commission for Cooperation held in Nairobi in April.
The agreements span a wide range of areas, including agriculture, justice, health, fisheries and aquaculture, gender equality and women’s empowerment, cultural cooperation, higher education, sports and wildlife.
Sing’oei said the partnership also covers scholarships, internships and the exchange of expertise, as the two countries seek to build stronger links in trade and investment.
Nairobi and Rabat are further holding discussions on air connectivity, with both sides looking at ways to improve bilateral air services and restore direct flights between the two capitals.
Kenya opened its embassy in Rabat in December 2023 as part of a wider push to strengthen its relationship with Morocco and expand its diplomatic presence in North Africa.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry says the mission plays a key role in advancing Kenya’s interests in the region, including promoting trade and investment, strengthening people-to-people links and deepening wider diplomatic cooperation.