Mid-Term Review of the Fourth Kenya-Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation (JPCC)

Kenya and Zimbabwe have today commenced a three-day Mid-Term Review of the Fourth Session of the Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation (JPCC) in Nairobi, bringing together senior officials from both countries to assess progress and deepen bilateral engagement.

The Mid Term Review   which commenced with a Senior Official's Session  is a  principal institutional framework guiding a structured engagement and cooperation between the two countries. It provides a vital platform for dialogue, mutual understanding, and collaboration across a wide range of sectors of shared interest while also  advancing  the bilateral agenda through proposed elevation of the JPCC into a Bi-national Cooperation Commission (BNC) to  be convened at the level of the Heads of State.

In his opening remarks, Amb. Josphat Maikara, EBS, Director-General for Political and Diplomatic Affairs, reaffirmed the enduring friendship and strategic partnership between Kenya and Zimbabwe. “The convening of this Mid-Term Review is both timely and significant, as it provides an opportunity to assess progress made in the implementation of agreed decisions, identify areas requiring renewed momentum, and chart a clear way forward ahead of the next full Session of the JPCC” he said.

Among areas of mutual cooperation includes trade and investment, agriculture and food security, education and skills development, women and youth empowerment, as well as political and diplomatic consultations. “These areas remain central to our mutual socio-economic transformation and regional integration efforts, including within the frameworks of AfCFTA and COMESA” said Amb. Maikara.
Kenya’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Amb. Gertrude Angote, underscored the strong and longstanding political, diplomatic, and people-to-people relations between Kenya and Zimbabwe, anchored in shared Pan-African values. She noted that these ties have been further reinforced through recent high-level engagements, including reciprocal presidential visits and sustained cooperation within regional and multilateral fora.

Amb. Angote also stressed the importance of aligning JPCC outcomes with Kenya’s 2024–2030 Foreign Policy and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, with a focus on economic diplomacy, regional integration, peace and security, climate action, and people-centred development.
Both countries expressed a shared commitment to exploring additional areas of engagement, particularly in diaspora cooperation and enhanced economic collaboration, to further unlock mutual opportunities.

The Senior officials session will culminate to the Principal/Permanent Secretaries session, which will be co-chaired by Dr. Korir SingOei, Principal Secretary State Department for Foreign affairs-Kenya  and Amb. Albert Chimbindi Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade -Zimbabwe.