In 2018, the value of Kenya imports from Jordan equaled that of its exports to the Middle East county in shift attributed to deepening of trade diplomacy following years of lukewarm relations punctured by military scandals.
In 2007 for instance, Kenya was accused of buying faulty second hand fighter jets form Jordan for Sh15.8 billion.
But since the visit to the county by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2014, relations have thawed with Jordan emerging as one of Kenya’s key allay in the Middle East as both countries strengthen their military and trade relations.
This is part of the reason the Kenya Defence Forces, Jordanian Armed Forces and the Kenya Coast Guard Service are currently undertaking a bilateral and multi-agency joint training exercise in Kwale up to 30th September 2019, known as Ex-Swift Eagle 2019.
“The joint exercise is aimed at enhancing joint forces ability to execute both conventional and asymmetrical operations in responding to emerging threats,” Kenya Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
Kenya trade statistics show that exports to Jordan rose about 500 percent from Sh308 million in 2014 to Sh1.5 billion in 2018, nearly equaling Jordanian exports to Kenya in the same year, according to Kenya Economic Survey 2019.
When Jordanian King Abdullah II visited Kenya in 2016, among the agreements made was to a deal to export tea and coffee valued at Sh6.18 billion, every year.
Kenya and Jordan also agreed to set up a joint business lobby known as Jordan-Kenya Joint Commission following the opening of Jordanian embassy in Kenya in early 2017.
In September, 2016 Kenyatta and King Abdullah II witnessed closing of a joint military exercise conducted by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the Royal Jordanian Armed Forces at the Embakasi Garrison dubbed ‘Swift Eagle’.
The exercise saw over 300 KDF officers trained in company attack tactics, aircraft hijack rescue, attack on rebel and recruitment camps and hostage rescue for eight weeks in an effort to combat terrorism.
In October 2017, more than 100 Kenya Defence Forces troops from various units visited in Jordan for joint specialized training on counter-terrorism as part of the “Swift Eagle” series of military cooperation.