Kenyan recognition of Kosovo: Diplomatic victory for Pristina or a successful business "transaction" by Behgjet Pacolli?

A surprise for Belgrade, but an even bigger one for official Pristina. News that Kenya recognized Kosovo after 17 years surfaced via the Facebook account of one of the biggest opponents of the current government and its prime minister. This is a "diplomatic victory," but not of the government or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—rather, it is the work of businessman and former minister Behgjet Pacolli, who presented a "sufficiently attractive offer" in Nairobi in exchange for recognition, sources told Kosovo Online.

Written by: Djordje Barovic

"This victory did not come by chance. It is the result of long, arduous work, dedication, and sacrifice. Since 2009, I have personally lobbied and spoken with Kenyan authorities to make this day a reality. I went door to door, from office to office, with only one goal—to make the voice and rights of the people of Kosovo known for freedom, independence, and sovereignty," Pacolli wrote on his Facebook account, sharing photos of Kenyan President William Ruto signing the recognition.

It turned out that there were not many officials from Pristina among his "followers," as reactions and congratulations on the first recognition of Kosovo in five years came only several hours later.

"On behalf of the institutions and citizens of Kosovo, I express my sincere gratitude to the President of Kenya, William Ruto, for this correct and important decision, as well as to Kenyan institutions and citizens who supported this great diplomatic step," Kosovo's President Vjosa Osmani stated in an official release.

Even in Kenya, the recognition of Kosovo came as a surprise.

Caleb Amisi, a member of the Kenyan Parliament’s Defense and Foreign Relations Committee, warned that such a move could have "serious diplomatic and economic consequences" for the country and risk isolating it on the global stage.

In initial reactions, officials from Pristina claimed that Kenya was the 118th country to recognize Kosovo.

However, the actual list is much shorter.

The document signed in Nairobi actually makes Kenya the 84th country to recognize Kosovo’s independence at this moment.

Data shows that out of 193 United Nations member states, 109 do not recognize Kosovo’s independence, while 84 have acknowledged it.

For Serbia’s former ambassador to Kenya, Dragan Zupanjevac, there is little doubt about how the recognition came about.

"It is the result of corrupt dealings between former Kosovo Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli and Kenyan President William Ruto," Zupanjevac told Kosovo Online.

He reminded that Kenya had long opposed Kosovo’s membership in international organizations such as UNESCO and Interpol and had advocated for adherence to international law.

However, that stance changed due to Pacolli’s efforts, who influenced the decision through financial and commercial relations with Ruto.

"When Kenya was a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2021 and 2022, it took a principled stance in sessions concerning Kosovo. Now there has been a shift, as the former minister of so-called Kosovo, Pacolli, who is de facto in corrupt relations with the president, financed this change of position—and that is something that is not good for Serbia," Zupanjevac noted.

He also recalled the historical relations between Serbia and Kenya, emphasizing that Yugoslavia was among the first ten countries to recognize Kenya’s independence in 1963 and that political and economic ties between the two countries had been strong for decades.

"The main influence here is that of former minister Pacolli, who entered into commercially lucrative ties with the Kenyan president. He began building these ties back in 2019 when the deputy president visited Pristina—a visit that Kenyan authorities at the time denied and dismissed as fake news, only for Ruto to later admit to me that he had indeed been there," Zupanjevac stated.

Is It a Diplomatic Victory for Kosovo?

When asked whether Kosovo’s recognition by Kenya could be seen as a diplomatic victory—considering it is the first in five years—this career diplomat argued that it was not the result of "diplomatic efforts" but rather Pacolli’s personal initiative.

"He made this effort using his own money and influence, but Kosovo is very pleased with it and will present it as a success and a victory," Zupanjevac emphasized.

He is also convinced that the Kenyan president will face serious challenges due to this decision, as it does not align with the country’s foreign policy interests.

A "New Momentum"

Former chief inspector of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA) and lawyer Shkëlzen Sopjani also believes that Pacolli played a key role in securing Kenya’s recognition of Kosovo’s independence.

He is convinced that this event could create a "new momentum" and trigger a chain reaction of recognitions by other African countries.

"This is a major recognition for Kosovo, particularly because it comes from Kenya, one of the most important and influential countries in Africa. This recognition has the potential to open new opportunities for Kosovo in the international arena, especially among other African states that might follow Kenya’s lead. This is a highly significant recognition because, let’s not forget, it is the only one in the past five years and could represent a new momentum in the recognition process," Sopjani told Kosovo Online.

He emphasized that Pacolli played a crucial role by leveraging his connections and influence in Africa.

"Pacolli was the first to announce Kenya’s recognition, and it is clear that he used his contacts in that part of the world. This is not the first time his efforts have resulted in Kosovo’s recognition by an African country," Sopjani explained.

Asked whether Pacolli could use this move for political gains and disrupt the calculations of leading parties in forming a new government, Sopjani was skeptical.

"Pacolli does not have his own party with political influence, nor was anyone from his ranks elected in the last elections. I don’t see him as part of the next government," Sopjani concluded.

"Attractive Offers" and Strategic Moves

For former Yugoslav Foreign Minister Vladislav Jovanovic, Kenya’s recognition of Kosovo is the result of an "orchestrated effort by Albanians" offering "relatively attractive deals in exchange for recognition."

"This is one of the incidents in the ongoing struggle over the recognition or non-recognition of the so-called state of Kosovo. In this battle, all interested parties are engaged—on one side, the so-called state of Kosovo with figures like Behgjet Pacolli, who can also act through other means, such as leveraging support from countries aligned with Kosovo and those influenced by the collective West," Jovanovic told Kosovo Online.

He noted that the UK and the US have traditionally maintained a strong presence in Kenya, as the country is considered one of Africa’s most developed nations with a strong Western influence.

"It is possible that this was a coordinated effort by Albanians, offering relatively attractive deals in exchange for recognition. But there is also a broader struggle by Western powers, which, through the European Union, seek to pressure Serbia into weakening its position on Kosovo and gradually surrendering to the momentum of events—eventually complying with directives for the full normalization of relations with Kosovo. This remains their unfulfilled goal," Jovanovic stated.

He added that Kenya’s recognition of Kosovo could be seen as a "jab" at Serbia, a reminder that the list of countries refusing to recognize Kosovo is not set in stone and that those currently in opposition might not always remain in that position.

"It is difficult to speak in absolutes in today’s unpredictable world. The world is in flux. What seemed final yesterday can turn out to be uncertain or replaced by something else," Jovanovic remarked.

He stressed that the battle for gaining or preventing recognition of Kosovo is an invisible one, fought behind closed doors—and Serbia must take this into account.

Kenya’s recognition, he argued, is not in Africa’s best interest, as the continent is increasingly asserting itself and demanding fairer treatment from global powers, especially former colonial rulers.

"In this context, we can expect that this issue will be debated both within Kenya and within the African community. Serbia will likely not sit idly by either," Jovanovic concluded.