President William Ruto announced that he is in talks with his Mozambican counterpart, Daniel Chapo, to import gas from Mozambique and make it one of Kenya’s major suppliers.
Ruto made the remarks in Nairobi while hosting President Chapo, who was in the country to attend the Kenya International Investment Conference that concluded on March 27, 2026.
He noted that Kenya currently imports cooking gas from countries including Nigeria and the Middle East, as well as via Tanzania under existing agreements.
Mozambique, however, is one of Africa’s most gas-rich nations, ranking 26th globally. A 2017 study indicated that, at the current rate of extraction, its gas reserves in the Ruvuma Basin could last more than 1,500 years.
President Ruto said global crises have pushed many countries to seek alternative energy sources.
He pointed out that the Russia–Ukraine War and tensions in the Middle East have highlighted the need for African countries to strengthen cooperation and find homegrown solutions.
“We must enhance strategies to utilize regional resources. The Russia–Ukraine war, the effects of COVID-19, and the conflict in the Middle East have all shown that Africa must intensify collaboration to safeguard its economies,” he said.
Ruto added that Kenya and Mozambique’s economies could complement each other in the energy sector, particularly through Mozambique’s vast reserves of gas and coal.
Data from Kenya’s energy regulator shows that demand for cooking gas is rising steadily, as more households transition away from firewood and charcoal.
To address this demand, Kenya is constructing a major gas storage facility in Mombasa with a capacity of 30,000 tonnes. The project is valued at $129 million and is expected to be completed in the coming months.
President Chapo affirmed that Mozambique is ready to expand cooperation with Kenya across multiple sectors, including energy, transport, tourism, and technology, noting that the two countries already collaborate in over 20 areas.
