If there is one country that, more than any other, embodies the true spirit of the Mattei Plan in Africa, it is Kenya. Not only because of its long-standing friendship with Italy or the presence of one of the continent’s largest Italian communities, but because Nairobi has now become the main testing ground for Italy’s new strategy on cooperation, development and investment.
From the port of Mombasa to the universities of Nairobi, spanning agriculture, innovation, energy, blue economy, tourism and training, Kenya continues to be the main focal point of the Mattei Plan. This is confirmed by the third annual report on the implementation of Italy’s strategy for Africa, which was submitted to Parliament in recent days.
The report, updated as at 30 June 2026, provides a snapshot of the Mattei Plan, which has now entered its operational phase. The number of partner countries has risen to eighteen, active projects now number 76, and the resources mobilised continue to grow, thanks in part to the Italian Climate Fund and the involvement of European institutions.
Among all the African partners, however, Kenya continues to occupy a special position. It is, in fact, the country with the highest concentration of projects linked to the Mattei Plan, thanks to a well-established collaboration spanning vocational training, sustainable agriculture, healthcare and energy, right through to digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence.
It is no coincidence that Nairobi itself has hosted major events in recent months dedicated to technological innovation and artificial intelligence – sectors in which Italy intends to strengthen its cooperation with the African continent. Alongside these are initiatives in the fields of education, research, food security and the development of agricultural supply chains – areas in which Kenya is a natural partner for Rome.
Not only “a new, modern and more balanced form of cooperation”, as it has been described by many, but also a foundation upon which solid relations have been built between the two governments and, ministry by ministry, between their respective administrative bodies as well. This is evidenced by the various Memoranda of Understanding and Letters of Intent signed between representatives of the two institutions across a wide range of fields.
According to the Italian Government, the Mattei Plan has now moved beyond the experimental phase and has become a structured strategy, backed by an initial budget of 5.5 billion euros and a growing number of joint initiatives with African partners. The stated aim remains to build relationships based on investment, development and mutual growth, moving beyond the traditional aid model.
Naturally, there is no shortage of critical comments. Some analysts point out that whilst the report presents very positive overall figures, it still offers few details on the actual progress of various projects and on the concrete results already achieved on the ground. The debate therefore remains open, particularly regarding transparency and the measurement of the initiatives’ impact.
Beyond the various political assessments, however, one fact now appears well established: Kenya continues to be Italy’s main partner in the implementation of the Mattei Plan. This central role confirms the country’s strategic importance in East Africa and could translate, in the coming years, into new opportunities for Italian businesses, universities, research bodies and economic operators already present in the region or interested in investing in the Kenyan market.