BRASÍLIA — Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi arrived in Brazil this week for a series of high-level meetings aimed at opening new channels of cooperation between Africa and South America in the skies, on trade routes, and in matters of security.
Mr Mudavadi, who also serves as Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, is expected to hold talks with Brazil’s Foreign Minister, Mauro Vieira. At the heart of the agenda is a push to strengthen air transport links, enhance security collaboration, and expand trade between the two regions.
“This visit marks a strategic shift in how we view our engagement with South America,” said an official in Mudavadi’s delegation, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the negotiations. “It’s about building bridges quite literally across continents.”
The talks come at a time when both Brazil and Kenya are seeking to deepen South–South cooperation and reduce dependence on traditional trade routes and partners.
Kenya is particularly keen on establishing a direct air corridor with Brazil to reduce travel time and unlock trade opportunities for agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, and technology. Brazil, for its part, sees value in increasing its diplomatic and economic footprint across Africa.
“We believe Africa is not only a partner but a priority,” Minister Vieira said during a joint appearance with Mr Mudavadi in Brasília. “Brazil is committed to closer ties that reflect shared values and future goals.”
Beyond bilateral issues, Mudavadi will meet African ambassadors based in Brazil for consultations on reforms within the African Union. Those talks are expected to focus on how to streamline AU institutions to make them more responsive to continental challenges such as conflict, migration, and economic integration.
The move echoes growing calls within the AU to reduce bureaucracy and give regional blocs more say in shaping pan-African policy.
Analysts say the visit could signal a broader realignment in Kenya’s foreign policy one that looks beyond Europe, China, and the United States.
“South America offers untapped potential,” said Dr Mercy Achieng, a foreign policy expert at the University of Nairobi. “This is more than symbolism. If direct air links are established, they could reshape trade flows in a meaningful way.”
While the talks are still at an early stage, officials say both governments are optimistic about reaching preliminary agreements on air transport cooperation and joint economic initiatives in sectors such as energy and agribusiness.
Mudavadi’s Brazil visit follows a series of diplomatic trips aimed at expanding Kenya’s global reach. It also comes at a time of internal scrutiny of the AU’s effectiveness, giving the regional angle of his trip added weight.
As one Kenyan diplomat put it, “It’s not just about Brazil. It’s about what a stronger African voice can do on the world stage when we work together and when we look further afield.”
