President William Ruto his Angolan counterpart João Lourenço in Luanda, Angola, January 8, 2025. /PCSKenya and Angola have agreed to work together to ensure the resumption of Kenya Airways' direct flights to Luanda beginning March this year.
The national carrier suspended direct flights to Luanda, Angola in August 2020 as part of a cost reduction following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Also affected were seven other African destinations of Bamako (Mali), Brazzaville (Republic of Congo), Mogadishu (Somalia), Khartoum (Sudan), Djibouti, Blantyre (Malawi) and Maputo (Mozambique).
The announcement was made Wednesday following a meeting between President William Ruto and his Angolan counterpart João Lourenço at the Angolan presidential palace in Luanda.
State House said Angola will further work towards reciprocating Kenya’s gesture and waive visa requirements for Kenyans visiting the country.
The presidency said the decision marks a significant step in strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
"We welcome Angola's decision to work with Kenya in facilitating the resumption of Kenya Airways' direct flights to Luanda from March.
Coupled with the reciprocal waiver of visa requirements for Kenyans, this will strengthen bilateral ties and expand opportunities for enhanced cooperation and mutual benefits," President William Ruto said in a separate statement on X.
He said the visa waiver will enable Kenya professionals like teachers to access Angola much more easily.
The two leaders also discussed trade relations between Kenya and Angola.
A statement from State House said the leaders also discussed pertinent issues in the African continent, including peace in the Great Lakes region, institutional reforms of the African Union and the elections of the chairperson of the African Union Commission slated for next month.
Ruto requested President Lourenço for support of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's bid for the AU Commission chairperson position.
On AU reforms, Ruto invited President Lourenço for a retreat in Kenya later this month ahead of the AU Heads of State Summit in February.
Ruto was given the mandate by fellow African heads of State to champion AU reforms.
In regards to peace in the in the Great Lakes region, the two leaders appreciated the need for a joint meeting between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) to consolidate the Luanda Process for Peace in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The mineral-rich country, which is currently facing insurgency from rebel groups, has been rocked by conflict for more than 30 years.
"Peace and security in our continent is of paramount importance to us all, and we are keen to have a process that incorporates all and ensure its success,” President Ruto explained.
President Ruto arrived in Luanda on Tuesday evening from Accra, Ghana, where he had attended the inauguration of President John Mahama.
Among those in President Ruto's entourage are Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who is part of the trip in his capacity as the Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Governors Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga) and Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Mandera Senator Ali Roba and Kinangop MP Kwenya Thuku.
