On 17 June 2026, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus was signed in Nairobi by the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, Savvas Vladimirou, and the Chargé d’Affaires of the Order of Malta’s Embassy in Kenya, Franco De Paoli.

The agreement aims to promote joint humanitarian, health and development initiatives in Kenya and to strengthen international cooperation, the protection of human rights and universal access to care and education, with particular attention to disadvantaged children, adolescents and social groups.

The understanding includes widespread interventions in the African country, including the support and implementation of health and educational infrastructure, the launch of psychosocial support programmes, the establishment of scholarships and the promotion of projects for access to drinking water.

The agreement is part of the historical and solid diplomatic relations that have linked the Republic of Cyprus and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta since 2012, and reasserts the common commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Order of Malta in Kenya

The Order of Malta has been present in Kenya for over twenty years with health and humanitarian assistance programmes in support of the most vulnerable communities. Through Malteser International, active in the country since 2001, the Order has developed projects for upgrading basic health services, training medical personnel and improving access to care, with particular attention to maternal and child health and medical emergencies. Major activities include support for the Kakuma refugee camp, provision of equipment and medicines to local facilities, interventions in drought-affected areas and initiatives to ensure safe water and sanitation.