Kenya–DRC rift puts trade, investments on the line

By Newsflash Writer

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Kenya have never been the closest of allies.

But as members of the East African Community (EAC) and vital trading partners, the two countries have often maintained cordial ties out of necessity.

That delicate balance, however, has been strained over the past three years. The conflict in eastern Congo, combined with competing diplomatic interests, has worsened relations between Nairobi and Kinshasa.

Despite this, trade between the two nations continues to flourish, with the DRC emerging as one of Kenya’s top markets.

Diplomatic fallout over Goma Consul

Tensions flared again last week after Kenya appointed Ms Judy Kiaria Nkumiri as consul-general to Goma, the bustling city in North Kivu province currently under the control of the M23/AFC rebels. Kinshasa immediately protested the appointment, saying it breached diplomatic protocols.

“The appointment of a head of a consulate post requires prior approval by Congolese authorities and issuance of an exequatur by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” said DRC’s Foreign minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner. She stressed that Kinshasa expects all communication to be done through official diplomatic channels.

The move has angered Congolese officials who see the appointment as tacit recognition of rebel authority. M23 rebels have entrenched their rule in North and South Kivu, even appointing governors after government forces fled. For Nairobi, Goma remains a key commercial hub, with Kenya Airways subsidiary Jambojet having launched a direct flight to the city in 2021. Congolese businesses also rely heavily on Mombasa port for imports and exports.

In 2022, DRC’s state shipping company, Lignes Maritimes Congolaises, began operations in Mombasa. By 2023, the Kenya Ports Authority ranked DRC as the third-largest market for Mombasa port, with an 8.2 percent share—competing directly with Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam port.

A history of diplomatic strains

This is not the first time the two nations have clashed diplomatically. Relations soured sharply in December 2023 when former electoral chief Corneille Nangaa launched the political wing of the M23, the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), in Nairobi. Kinshasa saw the move as an act of sabotage and accused Kenya of harbouring rebels intent on toppling President Félix Tshisekedi.

Although President William Ruto attempted to ease tensions by dispatching Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi to Kinshasa, mistrust persisted. Congo temporarily banned Kenya Airways from its airspace, and later, when Ruto defended Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame in a media interview, Kinshasa accused him of siding with Congo’s archrival.

The situation deteriorated further in early 2025 when Goma fell to rebels. Angry protesters attacked the Kenyan embassy in Kinshasa, forcing Nairobi to demand compensation for damages estimated at $500,000. Kinshasa never admitted responsibility.

To date, relations remain frosty. Kinshasa has refused to accredit Kenya’s nominated ambassador, leaving the embassy under minimal staff. Some Congolese commentators have gone as far as calling for the expulsion of the Kenyan envoy and closure of Kenyan businesses in DRC.

Trade thrives amid suspicion

Despite the diplomatic chill, commerce between the two nations has continued. DRC has become one of Kenya’s top regional trading partners, buying more goods from Nairobi and Kampala than from other EAC neighbours.

Kenyan banks are also deeply invested. Equity BCDC is now the second-largest bank in Congo, while KCB Group acquired TMB Bank in 2022. However, the performance of KCB has been less impressive than that of Equity. Cooperation in aviation has also faltered. A 2021 leasing deal between Kenya Airways and Congo Airways for two Embraer aircraft collapsed after the contract was not renewed. Jambojet, too, suspended its flights to Goma after the airport was damaged in the rebel takeover.

Still, the economic interdependence is undeniable. In 2023, Mombasa County authorities actively courted Congolese traders, knowing the port’s future competitiveness depends heavily on eastern Congo.

Yet the political disputes threaten to undo these gains. Some in Kinshasa now interpret Kenya’s actions as undermining Congo’s sovereignty and indirectly legitimising rebels allegedly backed by Rwanda—a claim Nairobi denies. Kenyan officials insist they are offering “a platform for free expression” and refuse to extradite AFC leaders.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, now a critic of President Ruto, has accused the Kenyan leader of “interfering in the internal affairs of DRC,” echoing suspicions held in Kinshasa.

As things stand, relations between the two countries hover in a fragile space—neither completely severed nor genuinely cooperative. Trade may be thriving, but the diplomatic rift poses a serious risk to investments and regional stability.