Coffee, tea and spices form the backbone of Kenya’s exports to Russia, Mudavadi noted. The last high-level Russian visit to Kenya came in 2023, when Lavrov met President William Ruto in Nairobi. Even so, relations between Nairobi and Moscow have also been marked by moments of tension. Factoring this, Mudavadi’s Moscow visit was less about redefining Kenya’s relationship with Russia than about managing a domestic political crisis. If that information had indeed reached Nairobi through diplomatic channels in January, Mudavadi’s trip to Moscow may have been less a diplomatic victory than a delayed confirmation of a decision already taken.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 16, 2026 21:49 UTC