During his recent trip to the French territory, Mayotte Island, the Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing'Oei discussed several collaborations, including the hiring of Kenyan Swahili teachers on the island.
In a statement on June 1, the PS revealed that the similarity between the two coastal communities of Kenya and Kimaore had prompted the discussions about teaching Swahili on the island.
"Given the cultural similarity between Kenyan Coastal communities and Kimaore culture, opportunities for the teaching of Swahili in Mayotte schools were discussed. I am grateful to Minister Thani and the French Embassy in Kenya for this partnership," he stated.
This comes at a time when several other countries, including Switzerland and Colombia, have already expressed interest in hiring Kenyan teachers to teach Swahili.
On April 23, the United States Embassy in Nairobi also announced a programme meant for Kenyans who seek to teach Kiswahili.
Dubbed the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) programme, it will allow teachers to teach the language for one year, from 2026 to 2027.
Apart from the Swahili teachers' opportunity, Sing'Oei also revealed that the island had signed regulations exempting Kenya’s food commodities from additional Phytosanitary conditions beyond those set by the European Union (EU).
This understanding will allow Kenyan produce like vegetables, fruit, milk and beef to reach Mayotte's over 500,000 residents unhindered. Kenya Airways' introduction of weekly direct cargo flights to the island will also facilitate this.
Furthermore, Kenya, the PS stated that the plans were underway to enhance connectivity between Mombasa and Longoni Ports.
Other major opportunities discussed during the visit were in technology, education, and tourism and were equally identified.
Sing'Oei was in Mayotte to show solidarity for the cyclone that hit the island on December 14, 2024, leading to devastating losses.
"My one-day visit to beautiful Mayotte to show solidarity for the cyclone that hit the island end of last year also served to unlock immense value for Kenya’s business," he stated.
