Rwanda and Kenya have signed a landmark memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will enable Rwanda to import refined petroleum products through Kenya’s Northern Corridor transit route, a move aimed at strengthening energy security, lowering fuel import costs, and deepening regional economic integration.
The agreement, signed in Nairobi on June 29, establishes a government-to-government framework that will allow Rwanda to source bulk refined petroleum products using Kenya’s transport and storage infrastructure, including the Port of Mombasa and the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) network.
The signing ceremony was attended by Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Antoine Kajangwe, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Ernest Rwamucyo, and Kenya’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, Janet Oben, among other senior officials.
In a statement, Rwanda’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) said the agreement “will enable Rwanda to source its bulk petroleum products using Kenya’s infrastructure for transportation and storage.”
Speaking after the signing, Minister Kajangwe described the agreement as a reflection of the strong partnership between the two neighbouring countries and their shared vision for regional development.
He noted that the Northern Corridor has long served as a strategic economic lifeline connecting landlocked countries in the region to the Port of Mombasa, facilitating trade and economic growth across East Africa.
“By optimising Kenya’s port and pipeline infrastructure, we will strengthen regional value chains, improve energy security, enhance supply resilience, and advance regional economic integration,” Kajangwe said.
In a separate statement posted on X, the minister described the agreement as a turning point for Rwanda’s energy sector.
“Today marks an important milestone for Rwanda’s energy security and cost competitiveness. With direct access to Kenya’s port infrastructure, facilitated by the Government of Kenya, Rwanda will begin to import its own petroleum products from global suppliers. Efficiency gains and cost savings ahead!” he wrote.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, Opiyo Wandayi, said the agreement represents a major step forward in bilateral relations and regional integration.
“Today, I signed an MoU between Kenya and Rwanda to facilitate the importation of refined petroleum products for Rwanda through Kenya’s Northern Corridor transit route, a major milestone in our bilateral relationship and regional integration,” Wandayi said.
The agreement builds on existing cooperation between Rwanda and Kenya in trade, transport, and financial services. Earlier this year, the two countries signed the Kigali Declaration on Fintech License Passporting, aimed at strengthening cross-border digital financial services and regulatory cooperation.
Officials from both governments say the latest agreement is expected to improve the reliability of fuel supplies, reduce dependence on intermediaries, and enhance the efficiency of petroleum imports while reinforcing Kenya’s role as a regional logistics and energy hub. The deal also supports broader efforts by East African Community member states to promote cross-border infrastructure, trade, and economic integration.
